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MSOC Zip-lining down in Costa Rica
The Skyhawks 2025 men's soccer team and coaches go zip-lining down in Costa Rica (July, 2025).

Skyhawks men’s soccer prepares for 2025 in style down in Costa Rica

8/8/2025 12:00:00 PM

By: Hayden Mangan, Assistant AD-Communications & Fan Engagement
DURANGO, Colo. – Thanks to the generous support of the Fort Lewis faithful, the 2025 Skyhawks men's soccer team was able to prepare for the upcoming season in style, spending seven nights as a squad down in San José, Costa Rica.
 
Every four years, the NCAA allows for member programs to take an international trip to strengthen team bonds, explore new cultures throughout the world, and, most importantly, garner an extra few weeks together to train and prepare for the upcoming season. Last July, and for the first time as a program since 2005, the Skyhawks men's soccer program took to the tropical beaches of Costa Rica.
 
"What an incredible opportunity for the program, and more importantly, the student-athletes," head coach David Oberholtzer shared. "We're grateful to have had the opportunity, and thank you to all of the alumni and others who contributed to make this possible. Being able to jumpstart the preseason and get three additional weeks of training and having all of the opportunities to bond and spend time together off the pitch is truly a huge advantage that helps us put our best foot forward entering the year."
 
From July 22nd to 29th, the Skyhawks spent time between San José, Punta Leona, and Grecia. The trip also provided a special connection, a trip home, for three Skyhawks, including Mathias Valverde, Julián Rojas, and Fabrizio Aguilera, who are each from La Unión, San José, and Montes de Oca, San José, Costa Rica, respectively.
 
"For me, it was exciting to play back in Costa Rica, and for my family to see my play as well," Aguilera shared. "Those three games were a good experience, not just for me, but for everybody. But for me, it was amazing to see my family, and have them watch me play, and to see them support me."
 Fort Lewis was no stranger to competition, playing three matches throughout the week against a trio of talented professional opponents from Costa Rica's second division. With plenty of opportunity for each player in the lineup to earn quality minutes, the Skyhawks eventually walked away with quality results from each match.
 
"Going into the matches, our focus was never on the results, but always on progress," Oberholtzer added. "Can we improve in the areas we are training? Can we be better than we were yesterday? In each match, the answer was always a resounding "yes". That being said, I can confidently say that we were the better side on every occasion. I'm excited, and when you get the chance to see what I've been seeing, I think you'll be excited as well."
 
Soccer wasn't the only activity on the schedule, as Fort Lewis spent plenty of time on the beaches of Punta Leona and even ziplining in the Tilaran Central Mountains. FC Tours, one of the Skyhawks' hosts for the week, even brought the team in to catch a first division professional match live in San José.
 
"It was an unbelievable experience," said junior goalkeeper Lucas Martin. "Costa Rica was a new environment and a new challenge, but the lads did very well. We have three Costa Ricans on the team, and it was great to go out and see where they're from and how they grew up. Outside of soccer, a big one for me was getting to see all of the wildlife, like crocodiles and monkeys."
 
Trips like these could not happen without the amazing support of Skyhawks fans everywhere. For those interested in donating, take a look at the Skyhawks men's soccer fundraising line items to see how your donations can make a direct impact on the program, and click HERE to contribute today. Fans who want consistent updates from the program can also sign up for the men's soccer email newsletter that comes straight from the desk of coach Oberholtzer.
 
Fort Lewis men's soccer will begin the 2025 campaign at home on Dirks Field against Lubbock Christian on Thursday, Sept. 4, at 4:30 p.m. Fans can enjoy another pair of non-conference matches up on the rim against Simon Fraser and Northwest Nazarene on Thursday and Saturday, Sept. 18 and 20, at 7 p.m., respectively. The Skyhawks will then begin conference play at home on Friday, Oct. 3, at 7 p.m.
 
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