ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. -- Rising juniors Mia Fino and Hannah Long recently represented the Elizabethtown College field hockey team over 10 days in Spain with the Beyond Sports Tour opportunity.

Fino and Long, each 17-game starters last season for Elizabethtown, found out about the trip through head coach Grace Hardy and were immediately interested in taking the opportunity to go abroad and engage in an experience outside of the United States. "I chose to go because I think this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I wanted to experience Spain while making new friends along the way", Fino said.

The tour, capped at 16 student-athletes, combined players from the Division II and Division III levels with roster spots filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. Included in the tour was nine nights total, three in Madrid, three in Valencia, and three in Barcelona while also getting to play three friendly exhibition games against local club teams.

"Playing with athletes from other colleges was a very unique and rewarding experience", Long said. "Everyone brought their own energy and style, which made practice and games super dynamic."

"Competing against local teams was interesting to me seeing the difference of play", Fino noted. "They play on astroturf, which allowed the pace of the game to be alot quicker. It was easier to do certain things like passing the ball, shooting, and dribbling [compared to surfaces back in US]."

All in all, Fino and Long enjoyed their time spent in a new place. "I love to travel, so having Beyond Sports make a schedule for us providing transportation, tours, and most meals made my experience much more enjoyable," Fino said. "I loved seeing the beaches, trying new foods, and making memories with friends!"

It was Long's first time out of the country, a trip she won't soon forget. "The architecture and history that I was able to experience during our tours was unbelievable. Specifically La Sangrada Familia and Las Ventas Bullring (Madrid) and the catamaran in Valencia were unforgettable!"

Both players didn't hold back their pride in being able to represent their team and school. "I felt lucky to represent Elizabethtown field hockey on this trip", Fino said. "Representing Elizabethtown and my team meant a lot to me", Long added. "Traveling with a teammate helped us represent both our school as well as the field hockey program and I was able to bring everything I've learned as a player and teammate at Elizabethtown to the team here."