Colorado University Athletics
Photo by: CUBuffs.com
Buffs Return From Aspen Trip With Sense Of Unity
August 10, 2016 | Soccer
BOULDER – Colorado's soccer team returned to Boulder from its annual preseason trip to the mountains on Tuesday evening with a feeling of unity. The Buffaloes spent three nights in Aspen and were able to get high-altitude training sessions in, as well as team-bonding activities.
"I think it's important, as beautiful as Boulder is, to get out and get living together," head coach Danny Sanchez said. "They cook their meals. They still work hard [on the trip]. I felt we had a couple good days of training. We were able to do some activities as a group and really spend some time with each other and get to know our teammates a little more."
Outside of several excellent training sessions, the team stayed in condos and the student-athletes were able to get to know teammates they didn't know as well before.
"I think it helped us a lot because they separated us into different condos and they put us with people that not only play our position, but people that we don't usually hang out with," junior defender Joss Orejel said. "I definitely think we got closer as a team."
Besides training and spending time at the condos, the team enjoyed time bowling and hanging out in town. The Buffs also spent time developing goals for the season and talking.
An unforeseen situation turned into another opportunity to get the team closer together. On the way back from Aspen to Boulder, the team's bus broke down. The team's sport performance coach Karim Derqaoui helped the driver repair the bus to get it back on the road after a 90-minute delay.
"That was a whole other bonding experience again," Orejel said.
The importance of team chemistry cannot be understated.
"I think it's really important because on the field, you need to know that your teammates are always going to be fighting for you," Orejel said. "[Let's] say I'm dribbling down the line and I lose the ball. Building that team chemistry, I know that Morgan Stanton or someone else in the midfield is going to come drop back and help out, or Alex Vidger is going to come across and help me out."
Sanchez is pleased with how his team has progressed throughout the preseason.
"It's a really good group," Sanchez said. "I think we're generally pleased with everybody. Some players will definitely establish themselves as starters early in this. The starting lineup the first game of the season won't be the same starting lineup as the second game and definitely not the 20th game. We realize that. There are definitely some players that have separated themselves and we hope they can maintain that level."
CU opens the season on Friday, Aug. 19, at 6 p.m. at Air Force. The team's home opener is two days later on Sunday, Aug. 21, with a 3 p.m. kickoff against Colorado State.
"I think it's important, as beautiful as Boulder is, to get out and get living together," head coach Danny Sanchez said. "They cook their meals. They still work hard [on the trip]. I felt we had a couple good days of training. We were able to do some activities as a group and really spend some time with each other and get to know our teammates a little more."
Outside of several excellent training sessions, the team stayed in condos and the student-athletes were able to get to know teammates they didn't know as well before.
"I think it helped us a lot because they separated us into different condos and they put us with people that not only play our position, but people that we don't usually hang out with," junior defender Joss Orejel said. "I definitely think we got closer as a team."
Besides training and spending time at the condos, the team enjoyed time bowling and hanging out in town. The Buffs also spent time developing goals for the season and talking.
An unforeseen situation turned into another opportunity to get the team closer together. On the way back from Aspen to Boulder, the team's bus broke down. The team's sport performance coach Karim Derqaoui helped the driver repair the bus to get it back on the road after a 90-minute delay.
"That was a whole other bonding experience again," Orejel said.
The importance of team chemistry cannot be understated.
"I think it's really important because on the field, you need to know that your teammates are always going to be fighting for you," Orejel said. "[Let's] say I'm dribbling down the line and I lose the ball. Building that team chemistry, I know that Morgan Stanton or someone else in the midfield is going to come drop back and help out, or Alex Vidger is going to come across and help me out."
Sanchez is pleased with how his team has progressed throughout the preseason.
"It's a really good group," Sanchez said. "I think we're generally pleased with everybody. Some players will definitely establish themselves as starters early in this. The starting lineup the first game of the season won't be the same starting lineup as the second game and definitely not the 20th game. We realize that. There are definitely some players that have separated themselves and we hope they can maintain that level."
CU opens the season on Friday, Aug. 19, at 6 p.m. at Air Force. The team's home opener is two days later on Sunday, Aug. 21, with a 3 p.m. kickoff against Colorado State.
Players Mentioned
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Thursday, November 20
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