In the years it has been permissible to do so under NCAA Division III rules, Horst Richardson, head men's soccer coach at Colorado College, has tried to arrange for his teams to travel out of the country.

Past Richardson-led squads have traveled to China, Japan and Germany. But when the squad traveled to Costa Rica in late May, the expectations of playing soccer and enjoying the sights and sounds of a foreign country were expanded to include something new -- a community-service project.

"In theory, when you go to a foreign country, you experience the culture and you take advantage of what it has to offer. But what can you give back?" Richardson said.

Over the course of the 18-day trip, the team played six soccer games against local teams and soaked up all the flavor Costa Rica could offer -- erupting volcanos, white-water rafting, forays through the jungle on a cable zip line.

But in return, the 18 members of the team -- along with assistant coach Tim Nikolajsen, Richardson and his wife Helen -- participated in a five-day volunteer project at the Manuel Antonio National Park.

The work, which proved to be challenging and strenuous, especially under the hot, humid conditions, included digging drainage ditches, rebuilding dilapidated trails and using machetes to clear thick vines from pathways.

"I don't know if we'll ever do another project like that under similar conditions," said Richardson. "But I think those kind of conditions showed us what we can do. We fulfilled the mission and accomplished what we had to and had some fun doing that."

The travel party also put on a soccer clinic at a local orphanage with 70 boys ages 6 through 15. In addition to engaging the youths in games and exchanging soccer tricks, the Colorado College student-athletes also donated soccer equipment and gifts.

While the company from which the school purchased the travel package, Costa Rica Soccer Tours, suggested the team visit the orphanage, it was Horst who approached the organization about completing a community-service project.

"As coaches, administrators and teachers here, we think young people should become involved and give back to the community in any number of ways. Whether that's domestic or foreign, it's still the experience that counts," Richardson said.

As a result of the experiences in Costa Rica, Richardson said the chemistry of the team is wonderful, and morale and trust are running high. In addition, he said he thinks the pace of the games played on international soil will help the team during the season.

Soccer student-athlete Michael Gossen said the trip served as a cultural exchange not only for each member of the team, but also for the people they met in Costa Rica.

"Everyone we met was so interested in what we were there to do," said Gossen. "All the things we did were looked on as helpful for not only the local communities, but the country as a whole."

For Gossen's teammate John Cropper, the trip proved to be informative and educational on and off the field.

"Witnessing the passion, excitement and the understanding that each Costa Rican has for the game was truly amazing," said Cropper. "We had the wonderful opportunity to run a clinic for an orphanage and although only a few of us could speak with the children, I feel that we all connected with them through soccer."

Even though the team has just returned from abroad, talk is already swirling about where the next trip will take players. In fact, the destination already has been determined. The team will travel to Germany in 2006, where, not coincidentally, the World Cup also is scheduled to be played.