SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - Soccer struggles for notice on a crowded American sports landscape, which stands in stark contrast to the game's status in England, the native land of Wittenberg University men's soccer coach Steve Dawson and a place where soccer is preeminent.

Where better, it stands to reason, than England for an American college soccer team to go for a training trip? That's exactly what the Wittenberg men's soccer team plans for Aug. 12-22. Dawson will act as tour guide for 18 team members and two of the players' parents, giving them the opportunity to experience the British culture, play games against local club teams and attend games played by the greatest professionals in the world.

"This has been a lot of work for the players and me, but I think it's really nice for the players to get the opportunity to see England," said Dawson, a native of London and a 1978 graduate of Loughborough University. "In America, there is football, baseball, basketball and so many other sports that dominate the headlines. In England, there are other sports, but soccer is the biggest one."

Dawson, the Wittenberg men's soccer head coach since 1981 and winner of 200 matches in that time, said he has previously taken high school and club teams he has worked with to England, but this is the first time a group of Tiger athletes has made the trip. The trip is scheduled to be a full one, as the team will be training for several days and will play three games. In addition, there will be several days of sightseeing in London, Manchester, Liverpool and Chester, and the Tiger players will be spectators for at least two professional games as well.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go to Europe as a team," said junior-to-be Greg Zeller, a defensive back from Springfield. "It will be an incredible preseason, and hopefully it will give us a great start to the season."

Dawson agrees that this will be an extremely positive way to start what he hopes will be a breakout season for the Tigers, who have finished 10-7-1 and 10-7 the last two years. "We are hoping to kickstart the season in a soccer culture while allowing the students to experience life in another country," he said, no pun intended.

Freshmen players will report to Wittenberg on Aug. 18 to begin training for the 2002 season with assistant coach Chuck Nickoson. The season begins with a scrimmage against Otterbein on Aug. 28 and then the annual Wittenberg Invitational on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1.

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