By Dave Carty, Sports Editor
July 3, 2013
Foxboro, MA --- The email came mid-way through her final collegiate season of field hockey. Worcester State University senior Ally Valencia, who graduated from Foxboro High in 2009, was invited by USA Athletes International to represent her country against some of the top competition from host country Scotland.
A travel enthusiast, Valencia's answer was swift. "Right away, I said yes," she said.
For 10 days at the start of June, Valencia embarked on her trip to Scotland, competing in six contests for the United States team, which featured players from locales such as New York, Texas and Washington D.C. Players were selected by All-American and all-conference lists, and coaches nominations.
Her Lancer teammate Nicole Harvey of Attleboro was also among those selected, giving her a chance to spend time with friends, new and old in a place she had never considered going,
"Scotland has never really been on my list of countries to see," said Valencia, who is currently shopping graduate programs to earn her doctorate in physical therapy. "When I got invited, I was like, 'Yeah, I'll definitely go.' I had more fun over there than I expected."
Two things struck her: the castles and all that green. Perhaps he favorite destination was Dunnottar Castle about a half hour outside of Aberdeen. Built more than 400 years ago, the castle sits atop a jut of land plucked straight from a majestic painting, on a cliff overlooking the North Sea.
But, of course, Valencia and her team had business on the trip. Competing against a variety of college-aged club squads, the United States team went 3-3 on the trip. Among the most difficult contests was a win secured on the night of the team's flight, with many of the players "jet-lagged and exhausted." The squad also competed against a junior Olympics-level squad, one of the USA team's losses.
Across the board, Valencia was floored by the level of competition across the pond. Where football fields dot our communities domestically, field hockey pitches sit in Scotland. Male teams are common and club teams feature players of various ages and skill levels. One day during the trip, one of the host teams hosted a youth clinic, with middle school-age players dazzling Valencia and her teammates with their abilities.
"They breed field hockey players over there," she said. "I was blown away by these 12, 13, 14-year-old girls making these elite field hockey moves. That was a little scary."
While the girls went through the whole tourist rigmarole, they also enjoyed a more in-depth look at Scotland, as the host teams guided the Americans around the country to see some sights off the beaten path. Though their cultures and dialogues were starkly different - basic lingo such as "cuts" and shouting to a teammate "I'm open" were new to the Scots - the sport gave them more than enough to bond over.
It also gave Valencia a chance to make some new friends domestically, several of whom she is already making plans to see again. If she doesn't see some of them this summer, she might next summer, as she already plans to attend next year's trip to Australia.
"Field hockey is always one of those sports that you have such great camaraderie with (teammates)," she said. "I might some really great friends with some really great players.
"(The trip) really opens your eyes to the other part of the world and makes you want to travel more."