By Stephanie Hayes
UCFAthletics.com

The summer of 2009 was one to remember for two of UCF's most talented women's soccer players. Andrea Rodrigues and Aline Reis both traveled to Brazil for what would prove to be a game-changing experience for both of them.

Rodrigues traveled to the city of Teresopolis and the Brazilian Football Confederation's training center Granja Comary, where she participated in the national team's U-19 camp. With two practices every day, and a strict schedule that kept the team on their toes from 7:30 a.m. until late into the evening, Rodrigues cites the experience as one of the best in her lifetime.

"It was a lot of fun and a lot of hard work," Rodrigues said. "I met the most amazing people and got to train with the most amazing coaches."

As the team competed from June 22-July 4 in preparation for the South American U-20 tournament in Columbia in 2010, Rodrigues had the opportunity to gain some first-hand experience that is certain to improve her as a player in many ways. The team played three games, two against professional women's teams and one against a men's league, all of which granted Rodrigues a good amount of playing time. With two wins and one loss, respectively, there was a great chance for her to learn from the team's performance.

Individually, Rodrigues felt she performed well, which she credits to the training she did in preparation for the trip.

"I trained three times a day on my own before the trip," Rodrigues said. "I ran on my own, I trained with my dad, and I lifted about four times a week. That really prepared me, and it also prepared me for the preseason."

While in Brazil, Rodrigues had the opportunity to play a new position at left back in the Brazilian camp. With this experience under her belt, she now has the ability to transfer what she has learned to the soccer field here at UCF this season.

Meanwhile, several hours away, Reis spent her summer playing and training with the Brazilian National Team. She had an impressive freshman record, including being named an NSCAA All-American, as well as being selected to the Soccer America All-America Freshman Team, a Soccer Buzz Freshman All-American and the Conference USA All-Tournament Team. It was evident then, with such talent, why she was called to play for her country, and she did not take the honor for granted.

"When I knew I was going, I got very, very excited," Reis said. "So it made me practice even more and train even more before going to the national camp. It was a great experience. Everybody there were good, high-quality players, and that helped me. You always play better when you play with good teammates. Everyone wants to be the best, so you're always prepared to show your best game."

With her family making the eight-hour drive from home in Campinas to support her, Reis was able to play hard for a team whose efforts were not unrewarded. With a 7-0 victory, Brazil demonstrated its talent throughout the camp, making a statement that regardless of who it was playing against, their game would remain steady. While in Brazil, Reis gained an amount of experience that has made her more comfortable than ever on the soccer field. When asked what she has most improved on, Reis admitted that it was her technique with the ball.

"Everyone talks about my height, because I'm really small," said Reis, who stands at 5-foot-3. "The way that I see me overcoming that since I cannot get taller of course, is to work on other things, like my technique, how I catch the ball, my jumping. I focused on that during the summer."

Both women have come back to UCF in 2009, primed for a memorable season. With a newfound confidence instilled in both Rodrigues and Reis, it can be certain that these student-athletes will make even greater names for themselves in the future.