Getting the chance to even train in Europe is a rare but important experience for any youth soccer players who aspire to play at the highest level. 

The exposure to that caliber professional soccer demonstrates just what it takes to make it as to the top.

Four players from Shattuck St. Mary’s Academy recently had the opportunity to travel and train at Werder Bremen, a club in Germany. Lucas Stauffer, Andrew Moullin, Mike Bajza and Geoff Dee made the trip in February, along with U18 head coach Tim Carter.

Lucas Stauffer

“It was great. I personally loved everything,” Moullin told TopDrawerSoccer.com. “Of course, it's hard going into the dressing room with young pros who don't speak English but getting through it made us better as players. Like we've been saying, we got a lifetime experience in five days.”

Added Stauffer: “I am very thankful I was able to be at a club like Werder Bremen. It was a good experience to match myself against players who are already in an academy of a Bundesliga club.”

Stauffer is no stranger to traveling abroad and training with European clubs, having spent time last year at a handful of clubs in the Netherlands. A member of the U.S. Futsal National Team, the trip was another unique experience for the teenager, who got to travel with some teammates. 

Moullin also has trained overseas before as well, with stints at Sheffield Wednesday and West Ham United in England. Stauffer noticed that things in Germany differed significantly from his experience with the Dutch clubs.

“The training was much different in Holland than it was in Germany,” he said. “In Germany, the main focus was point was to score goals quickly, and apply as much pressure as possible to the opposition. As in Holland, the training sessions were mainly focused on passing, build up from the back, and technique.”

The players trained with the U17s, U19s and completed a fitness test with the Bremen reserve squad. Even though the time in the area was short, Moullin enjoyed the area surrounding the club.

“I enjoyed the city,” he said. “It was my type of city, one that is small but very proud and busy. They take a lot of pride in what they do. Everyone from the waiters at our table to the coaches we trained with all did it with class and it was done well. We all tried to embrace the culture by trying to speak to people in German and wearing European clothing it was good fun. I'd love to do it again.”

U.S. U14 BNT defender trains with Pachuca

Edwin Lara, a defender with the U.S. U14 Boys National Team and recently part of the 2013 id2 National Selection Tour, has a number of suitors from professional academies already.

The left back with a lethal foot has quickly emerged as one of the promising pieces of this 1999 age group, and he has already picked up some experience abroad.

“We played a scrimmage in San Francisco against Alianza where scouts from Mexico attended,” Lara told TopDrawerSoccer.com about how he was spotted. “After the game ended, they began to ask me questions related to soccer. It took a while to choose between all the teams that offered me to play for them. At the end, my family and I decided Pachuca was the best place to join.”

Lara has not officially joined the Mexican top flight club yet, but he does make it down quite often.

“Whenever they invite me to any of their games or trainings, I would most likely go,” Lara said. “Sometimes, it’s hard for me to go since I’m also in school. Right now, I don’t have an exact date for when I would officially be part of the Pachuca team.”

While the youngster has mostly played left back for both club and country, he has been known to score a wonder goal from time to time. He did say he enjoys getting forward into the attack, but has no preference for where he plays on the field. 

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