After being named the Sooner Athletic Conference Champions, the women’s soccer team traveled to California to play in the first round of the National Tournament. Facing no. 4 Concordia, the Lady Eagles suffered a 2-0 loss that ended their noteworthy season.
The team is now putting all of their focus on their upcoming mission trip to Brazil over the Christmas holiday where they will have the opportunity to visit orphanages, play against club and professional soccer teams and fellowship with the communities there.
Senior Laura Bradshaw, who has now finished her collegiate soccer career, said the team will be ministering to people through the game of soccer.
“It will be awesome to use a God-given talent to reach out to others and show them love,” Bradshaw said.
The team has had to raise all of the funds for their trip.
“We have stood on street corners begging for money, had bake sales, sent out letters asking for prayer and donations, washed cars, had events at Zaxby’s, Cherry Berry, and La Huerta,” Bradshaw said. “I still have a few more letters to send out- I’m almost there!”
Bradshaw believes the trip will be beneficial for the team.
“We’ve already been through so much together and I am excited to see what God will do within our team,” Bradshaw said. “I have a feeling God has a lot in store for our team as a whole.”
“Anytime you go on a trip, especially with it being out of the country, the experiences you have bring you close to those your traveling with,” Junior Casey O’Brien said. “It will be an amazing experience.”
Support has come to the team not only financially, but through prayer and fellowship as well.
O’Brien is thankful for her peers supporting her and her team on and off the field.
“It’s so reassuring knowing that the school supports what we are doing,” O’Brien said. “To see students asking us about our trip and how fundraising is going is really encouraging.”
The team will depart the United States on December 31 and return on January 9.
If you would like to learn about ways you can continue to support the Lady Eagles leading up to their trip, as well as while they are gone, contact the women’s head coach Kathleen Paulsen, or one of the players.