Keene State Coaches Go Abroad this Summer

 KEENE, N.H., 6/17/08 - Keene State coaches Ron Butcher and Rob Colbert are going abroad this summer.
 

Butcher will take a group of upperclassmen from his Owl men's soccer team to Costa Rica, and Colbert has put together a squad comprised of graduated basketball players from the Northeast who will travel to Greece and Italy.
 

Butcher and his team will spend nine days in Costa Rica from August 13 to 22. The Owls will play four games against club and reserves teams before returning home and getting set for preseason camp.
 

"I'm not one for taking big groups places, but Coach (Rick) Scott has done about 35 overseas trips and decided it was time we go," set Butcher, who is getting set for his 38th season coaching the Owls. "Many teams have done it, and I'm told it's a great experience."
 

In addition to the valuable playing experience, Butcher hopes the trip will foster team bonding. "At the start of last season, we had chemistry issues on the team," Butcher said. "I think a trip like this can go a long way to alleviate those problems."
 

The KSC men's soccer team opens up its season at the Salisbury (Md.) University Elmer Lord Soccer Classic on August 30-31.
 

Colbert said he was asked to put a team together by USA Athletes International. The 10-member squad, which includes former Owls Travon Little, Matt Hickey, and Kevin Ritter as well as players from Rhode Island College and other area programs, will depart June 30 and return July 9.
 

The team will play two games in Athens and Bologna and also have time to sight-see in both counties. According to Colbert, the games will be played under international rules. "The three-point line is the one we will be adopting next season and many of players have experimented with the trapezoid lane in their preseason games," he said. "So it won't be totally new for the players."
 

"I'm really excited about the trip," said Colbert, KSC's 10th-year coach. "It's an opportunity to coach some of the kids you've played against, seen, or recruited and also a chance to represent the country."
 

"I'm also excited for the players," he added. "It's an experience without basketball they probably wouldn't get."