While the University quiets down for the winter recess, Colgate's field hockey team will pack its bags for an experience that will take the Raiders far from Central New York: Barcelona.
On Jan. 5, the Raiders will travel to the Mediterranean city for an eight-day visit that will include practices, games against clubs teams, sightseeing, and many opportunities to further bond as a team.
It will be the first time in more than a decade the field hockey team has traveled overseas.
Following the conclusion of the 2024 season, the team began to discuss ways to spend more time together during the off-season. An overseas trip was considered. The team was instantly sold on the idea.
"The idea of the team taking a foreign tour came up organically as we were discussing long-term goals," said Vice President and Director of Athletics Yariv Amir '01, who has assisted in the execution of the program's first overseas trip in a decade. "From there, the question became how we could bring the idea to life and what timing would best support our student-athletes. Ultimately a January trip proved to be the most practical and beneficial option."
A generous donation helped launch the effort, though the team hopes to raise additional support to cover the entire cost.
The program felt that Spain made the most sense, at least out of teams in Europe, because the weather allowed for field hockey teams to play outdoors in January.
The Raiders will conduct several practices and play three matches against local club teams. They will visit historic sites in and around Barcelona, which includes a cable-car tour of the mountainside of Montserrat.
Dani Palmer '26, captain of the 2025 squad, said she and her teammates are thrilled for the opportunity to visit Europe as a team.
"This is something that we have never done before in my time here at Colgate, so I am looking forward to playing against international competition and making lots of memories with my teammates," she said. "I think it will be such a cool experience to not only compete with my teammates one last time in Spain but also be able to explore Barcelona with them."
The trip also offers seniors one final chance to compete with the team before they graduate.
"For me, as a senior, I am looking to cherish every last minute of competing with my teammates and enjoying all of the laughs, team activities and meals," Palmer said. "I think for the rest of the classes who will be returning for another season (or seasons) it will be a very unique opportunity to be able to build upon their skills and game play while competing against the field hockey clubs in Spain. Usually we don't see each other for the entire month of winter break so I also think that it will help set them up for a very successful spring season."
Morgan Willis '26, a senior on the 2025 program, highlighted the importance of this opportunity for the student-athlete experience.
"This is such an amazing opportunity to be able to travel abroad together as a team and get to experience two weeks in Spain," she said. "We will get to learn so much more about the game and play against teams and learn from coaches with completely different playing styles than what we are used to, which will make us all better players.
"Getting to see other cultures will enrich us as people and broaden our horizons beyond what we are familiar with. It's truly another amazing opportunity given to us by being student-athletes here at Colgate."
Help Send the Raiders to Spain
The generosity of alumni, families, and friends helps to make special experiences like this possible. A gift to Colgate Field Hockey today will create lifelong memories for our student-athletes. Click here to support the program.
