{"id":865,"date":"2019-10-17T23:22:01","date_gmt":"2019-10-17T23:22:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/2019\/10\/17\/20191015an-international-squad\/"},"modified":"2020-09-05T19:26:44","modified_gmt":"2020-09-05T19:26:44","slug":"20191015an-international-squad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/2019\/10\/17\/20191015an-international-squad\/","title":{"rendered":"An International sQUad"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure\n          class=\"\n            sqs-block-image-figure\n            image-block-outer-wrapper\n            image-block-v2\n            design-layout-collage\n            combination-animation-none\n            individual-animation-none\n            individual-text-animation-none\n            image-position-left\n            \n          \"\n          data-scrolled\n          data-test=\"image-block-v2-outer-wrapper\"\n      ><\/p>\n<div class=\"intrinsic\">\n<div\n          \n              \n              class=\"\n                \n                image-inset\n                \n                  content-fit\n                \n              \"\n              data-animation-role=\"image\"\n              data-description=\"\"\n              \n  \n\n          ><br \/>\n            <noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/10_image-asset.png\" alt=\"An International sQUad - By Tom Krosnowski\" \/><\/noscript><br \/>\n            <img data-src=\"http:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/10_image-asset.png\" data-image=\"http:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/10_image-asset.png\" data-image-dimensions=\"800x800\" data-image-focal-point=\"0.5,0.5\" alt=\"\"  \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"image-overlay\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div><figcaption class=\"image-card-wrapper\" data-width-ratio>\n<div class=\"image-card sqs-dynamic-text-container\">\n<div class=\"image-title-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-title sqs-dynamic-text\"\n                \n  \n><\/p>\n<p class=\"\">An International sQUad<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"image-subtitle-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-subtitle sqs-dynamic-text\"\n                \n  \n><\/p>\n<p class=\"\">By Tom Krosnowski<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">By Tom Krosnowski<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">It\u2019s an interesting paradox \u2013&nbsp;Earth\u2019s population is growing exponentially, currently estimated at some 7.7 billion people. Why then, does it seem like the world is only getting smaller?<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">Although it\u2019s on a much smaller scale, the Quinnipiac Bobcats are an interesting example of this phenomenon. <\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">Quinnipiac University is a small private institution in Hamden, Connecticut. Most of the students who attend the school are from the American Northeast, and approximately 97 percent of the student body comes from somewhere within the United States. <\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">However, it\u2019s on the athletic fields where Quinnipiac\u2019s commitment to international recruitment really shines. &nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">In their never-ending search for team success, the coaches of Quinnipiac\u2019s 21 Division-I teams have reached out overseas. International recruitment is a growing part of the collegiate athletics industry, and it\u2019s something that has become a distinct part of the Quinnipiac Bobcat identity.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">How do you think an athlete gets recruited? It seems simple enough \u2013&nbsp;a coach finds potential student-athletes, talks to them, watches them play and maybe offers them a scholarship.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">That\u2019s not the case for many of Quinnipiac\u2019s international recruits.<\/p>\n<p>   <iframe title=\"How many international athletes are on each team?\" aria-label=\"Bar Chart\" id=\"datawrapper-chart-KQPzy\" src=\"\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/KQPzy\/1\/\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;\" height=\"554\"><\/iframe><script type=\"text\/javascript\">!function(){\"use strict\";window.addEventListener(\"message\",function(a){if(void 0!==a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"])for(var e in a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"]){var t=document.getElementById(\"datawrapper-chart-\"+e)||document.querySelector(\"iframe[src*='\"+e+\"']\");t&&(t.style.height=a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"][e]+\"px\")}})}();<\/script><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">Meet <a href=\"https:\/\/gobobcats.com\/roster.aspx?rp_id=8136\" target=\"_blank\">Queenie Lai<\/a>. A junior from Hong Kong, Lai could almost describe her recruitment process as \u201creverse recruiting.\u201d Lai was an exceptional golfer back home, but wanted a new challenge on the links at a more competitive level. After an admittedly-late start to the recruitment process, Lai took it upon herself to achieve her goal of playing U.S. collegiate golf.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">\u201cI had to play in the States for a whole summer of tournaments, state-to-state,\u201d Lai said. \u201cAnd, I had to contact at least 50 schools and the coaches and introduce myself and ask if they were interested in recruiting me. Eventually, I landed on Quinnipiac and the coach I have right now. He was one of the nicest, and that meant a lot to me.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">\u201cI had to do most of the work.\u201d <\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">It\u2019s certainly a much different story than the common assumption of university-paid travel, lavish dinners and unlimited budgets. However, Lai is not the only Quinnipiac athlete with an unconventional recruitment story.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"block-animation-none\">\n<blockquote data-animation-role=\"quote\" \n<p>   ><br \/>\n    <span>&#147;<\/span>I had to do most of the work.<span>&#148;<\/span><br \/>\n  <\/blockquote><figcaption class=\"source\">&mdash; Queenie Lai on recruiting<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div\n        class=\"\n          image-block-outer-wrapper\n          layout-caption-below\n          design-layout-inline\n          combination-animation-none\n          individual-animation-none\n          individual-text-animation-none\n        \"\n        data-test=\"image-block-inline-outer-wrapper\"\n    ><\/p>\n<figure\n            class=\"\n              sqs-block-image-figure\n              intrinsic\n            \"\n            style=\"max-width:1575.0px;\"\n        ><\/p>\n<div\n              \n                style=\"padding-bottom:55.501617431640625%;\"\n              \n              class=\"\n                image-block-wrapper\n                \n          \n        \n                has-aspect-ratio\n              \"\n              data-animation-role=\"image\"\n              \n  \n\n          ><br \/>\n            <noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/21_image-asset.jpg\" alt=\"Courtesy: Quinnipiac Athletics\" \/><\/noscript><img class=\"thumb-image\" data-src=\"http:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/21_image-asset.jpg\" data-image=\"http:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/21_image-asset.jpg\" data-image-dimensions=\"1575x984\" data-image-focal-point=\"0.5,0.5\" alt=\"Courtesy: Quinnipiac Athletics\" data-load=\"false\" data-image-id=\"5da60eb6f96397077b2c3b11\" data-type=\"image\" \/>\n          <\/div><figcaption class=\"image-caption-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-caption\">\n<p class=\"\">Courtesy: Quinnipiac Athletics<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/gobobcats.com\/roster.aspx?rp_id=8122\" target=\"_blank\">Bianca Strubbe<\/a> was at a crossroads. After playing field hockey in her native Poland for 14 years, Strubbe needed a break. She traveled to the United States, settling in West Hartford as an au pair. Her love of field hockey not yet entirely quelled, Strubbe went to a Quinnipiac field hockey game at the suggestion of her host family. <\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">After liking what she saw on the field and in the state-of-the-art facilities, Strubbe decided to bring field hockey back into her life. She played and coached at a local HTC field hockey club team, but never would have found college field hockey if not for a friendly co-worker, who informed her that she\u2019d likely be eligible to play in the NCAA.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">\u201cI didn\u2019t know that, to be honest,\u201d Strubbe said. \u201cNone of my friends or Polish players know that we are very welcome in the U.S. playing in college. We don\u2019t have any agencies, we don\u2019t have any connection with U.S. colleges, so, to be honest, we don\u2019t know that we have the chance to earn our degree and play field hockey here.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">Now in her second year as a graduate student at Quinnipiac, Strubbe has made a seamless transition. She\u2019s the team\u2019s leading scorer this season, and her English has improved immensely, thanks in part to her choosing journalism for her major. <\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">Although foreign students are often taught English, the field hockey team is careful to keep an international influence around to keep their players comfortable.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">\u201cIt\u2019s good to have someone who has the same accent as me,\u201d Strubbe said. \u201cWe feel comfortable, we don\u2019t feel afraid to talk. It\u2019s good to have international students around you.\u201d<\/p>\n<div\n        class=\"\n          image-block-outer-wrapper\n          layout-caption-below\n          design-layout-inline\n          combination-animation-none\n          individual-animation-none\n          individual-text-animation-none\n        \"\n        data-test=\"image-block-inline-outer-wrapper\"\n    ><\/p>\n<figure\n            class=\"\n              sqs-block-image-figure\n              intrinsic\n            \"\n            style=\"max-width:1920.0px;\"\n        ><\/p>\n<div\n              \n                style=\"padding-bottom:56.25%;\"\n              \n              class=\"\n                image-block-wrapper\n                \n          \n        \n                has-aspect-ratio\n              \"\n              data-animation-role=\"image\"\n              \n  \n\n          ><br \/>\n            <noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/strubbe_dribbling_web.jpg\" alt=\"Courtesy: Quinnipiac Athletics\" \/><\/noscript><img class=\"thumb-image\" data-src=\"http:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/strubbe_dribbling_web.jpg\" data-image=\"http:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/strubbe_dribbling_web.jpg\" data-image-dimensions=\"1920x1080\" data-image-focal-point=\"0.5,0.5\" alt=\"Courtesy: Quinnipiac Athletics\" data-load=\"false\" data-image-id=\"5da60f987aadb3023c5fa2a0\" data-type=\"image\" \/>\n          <\/div><figcaption class=\"image-caption-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-caption\">\n<p class=\"\">Courtesy: Quinnipiac Athletics<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<figure class=\"block-animation-none\">\n<blockquote data-animation-role=\"quote\" \n<p>   ><br \/>\n    <span>&#147;<\/span>We don\u2019t know that we have the chance to earn our degree and play field hockey here.<span>&#148;<\/span><br \/>\n  <\/blockquote><figcaption class=\"source\">&mdash; Bianca Strubbe<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">Quinnipiac women\u2019s ice hockey forward <a href=\"https:\/\/gobobcats.com\/roster.aspx?rp_id=8222\" target=\"_blank\">Sarah-Eve Coutu-Godbout<\/a><strong> <\/strong>didn\u2019t quite have that same luxury. Although she was one of seven international players on the team her freshman year, all Canadians, she was the only one who predominantly spoke French. Fortunately, head coach Cassandra Turner<strong> <\/strong>did her best to help Coutu-Godbout adapt.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">\u201cCass knew right off the bat that I couldn\u2019t really speak English, so she was very patient,\u201d Coutu-Godbout said. \u201cShe sent me recommendations and books to read to practice my English, as well as helping me with all the stuff I needed to do. For me, that\u2019s exactly what I needed. The integration here in the U.S. was pretty smooth because of the coaches.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">Much like Strubbe, Coutu-Godbout wasn\u2019t initially aware of the opportunity she had to play in the United States, albeit for different reasons.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">\u201cIn Quebec, they want to maintain all the Quebec players in Canada. It\u2019s kind of against them to go to the U.S.,\u201d Coutu-Godbout said. \u201cSo a lot of the teams won\u2019t help you get a spot on a (U.S.) team, so I was pretty much doing it by myself.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">\u201cThe girls (in America) can be recruited at 13, but in Quebec, it\u2019s another world. They want to keep it away, they don\u2019t want you to come here.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">Even though her peers didn\u2019t want Coutu-Godbout to play college hockey stateside, she wouldn\u2019t have it any other way.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">\u201cI really enjoy it here,\u201d Coutu-Godbout said. \u201cI think it\u2019s the perfect choice for me, and I\u2019m really happy about it. I never looked back on it.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"block-animation-none\">\n<blockquote data-animation-role=\"quote\" \n<p>   ><br \/>\n    <span>&#147;<\/span>In Quebec, it\u2019s another world. They want to keep it away, they don\u2019t want you to come here.<span>&#148;<\/span><br \/>\n  <\/blockquote><figcaption class=\"source\">&mdash; Sarah-Eve Coutu-Godbout<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div\n        class=\"\n          image-block-outer-wrapper\n          layout-caption-below\n          design-layout-inline\n          combination-animation-none\n          individual-animation-none\n          individual-text-animation-none\n        \"\n        data-test=\"image-block-inline-outer-wrapper\"\n    ><\/p>\n<figure\n            class=\"\n              sqs-block-image-figure\n              intrinsic\n            \"\n            style=\"max-width:2000.0px;\"\n        ><\/p>\n<div\n              \n                style=\"padding-bottom:66.64999389648438%;\"\n              \n              class=\"\n                image-block-wrapper\n                \n          \n        \n                has-aspect-ratio\n              \"\n              data-animation-role=\"image\"\n              \n  \n\n          ><br \/>\n            <noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/sarah_eve_generic_1.jpg\" alt=\"Courtesy: Quinnipiac Athletics\" \/><\/noscript><img class=\"thumb-image\" data-src=\"http:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/sarah_eve_generic_1.jpg\" data-image=\"http:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/sarah_eve_generic_1.jpg\" data-image-dimensions=\"2000x1333\" data-image-focal-point=\"0.5,0.5\" alt=\"Courtesy: Quinnipiac Athletics\" data-load=\"false\" data-image-id=\"5da610177aadb3023c5fb23c\" data-type=\"image\" \/>\n          <\/div><figcaption class=\"image-caption-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-caption\">\n<p class=\"\">Courtesy: Quinnipiac Athletics<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">How much can you learn about someone through a computer screen? According to the coaches at Quinnipiac, quite a bit. <\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">\u201cThis generation is a little different,\u201d men\u2019s soccer coach <a href=\"https:\/\/gobobcats.com\/coaches.aspx?path=msoc&amp;rc=3543\" target=\"_blank\">Eric Da Costa<\/a> said. \u201cUnfortunately, communication is a little bit harder in terms of getting on the phone and having a phone conversation, so we do a lot of Skype, we do a lot of WhatsApp, FaceTime, just trying to get that time with the guys and figure out who they are, what they\u2019re about, what makes them tick, and (if) that fits into what we do here.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">If Da Costa and his coaching staff have the ability to travel overseas to visit a player, they will. More often than not though, the soccer team recruits its players over the internet due to budgetary and travel restrictions. <\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">\u201cWe have to be cautious about how we spend our money,\u201d Da Costa said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">According to Da Costa, it\u2019s easier to recruit international soccer players than Americans.<\/p>\n<div\n        class=\"\n          image-block-outer-wrapper\n          layout-caption-below\n          design-layout-inline\n          combination-animation-none\n          individual-animation-none\n          individual-text-animation-none\n        \"\n        data-test=\"image-block-inline-outer-wrapper\"\n    ><\/p>\n<figure\n            class=\"\n              sqs-block-image-figure\n              intrinsic\n            \"\n            style=\"max-width:2500.0px;\"\n        ><\/p>\n<div\n              \n                style=\"padding-bottom:66.68000030517578%;\"\n              \n              class=\"\n                image-block-wrapper\n                \n          \n        \n                has-aspect-ratio\n              \"\n              data-animation-role=\"image\"\n              \n  \n\n          ><br \/>\n            <noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/gallery_image-%283%29.jpg\" alt=\"Courtesy: Quinnipiac Athletics\" \/><\/noscript><img class=\"thumb-image\" data-src=\"http:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/gallery_image-%283%29.jpg\" data-image=\"http:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/gallery_image-%283%29.jpg\" data-image-dimensions=\"2500x1667\" data-image-focal-point=\"0.5,0.5\" alt=\"Courtesy: Quinnipiac Athletics\" data-load=\"false\" data-image-id=\"5da611f4aeff002cb6010f86\" data-type=\"image\" \/>\n          <\/div><figcaption class=\"image-caption-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-caption\">\n<p class=\"\">Courtesy: Quinnipiac Athletics<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">\u201cRecruiting the American kids is actually a lot more difficult for us,\u201d Da Costa said. \u201cThey want the glitz, they want the glamour. They know the differences between the institutions in terms of prestige or popularity, so they look their nose down at us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">Once coaches have a good experience with a player from a certain area, they are more likely to revisit that region in future recruiting. Take Quinnipiac field hockey, for example. Head coach <a href=\"https:\/\/gobobcats.com\/coaches.aspx?path=fhockey&amp;rc=3533\" target=\"_blank\">Becca Main<\/a> has presided over the program for all 25 years of its existence, and has designated \u201cpockets\u201d of international talent. The team likes to focus its recruiting efforts in areas like South Africa, the Netherlands, Germany and Spain, where several successful players have come from before.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">Field hockey is uniquely positioned for international recruiting, compared to some of Quinnipiac\u2019s other sports. According to Main, international players are the preferred recruits for the program due to their added experience.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">\u201c(International recruits) have almost 10 years on an American student \u2013&nbsp;they\u2019ve been playing 10 years longer,\u201d Main said. \u201cIn general, most Americans have been playing 4-6 years, max. \u2026 You get (an international) coming in, they\u2019ve got 16 years (of experience). They\u2019re just better at playing the sport.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">With all of the different languages and cultures on the team, Main tries to make sure that each international player has at least one other teammate who speaks their language. It could be hard to mesh all these different pieces together, but creative thinking from the coaching staff makes it all fit.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">\u201cI think the best thing about our international players is that, the \u2018groupthink mentality\u2019 \u2013&nbsp;we don\u2019t have that anymore,\u201d Main said. \u201cWe have the ability to think outside the box.\u201d<\/p>\n<div\n        class=\"\n          image-block-outer-wrapper\n          layout-caption-below\n          design-layout-inline\n          combination-animation-none\n          individual-animation-none\n          individual-text-animation-none\n        \"\n        data-test=\"image-block-inline-outer-wrapper\"\n    ><\/p>\n<figure\n            class=\"\n              sqs-block-image-figure\n              intrinsic\n            \"\n            style=\"max-width:2500.0px;\"\n        ><\/p>\n<div\n              \n                style=\"padding-bottom:150.0%;\"\n              \n              class=\"\n                image-block-wrapper\n                \n          \n        \n                has-aspect-ratio\n              \"\n              data-animation-role=\"image\"\n              \n  \n\n          ><br \/>\n            <noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/gallery_image-%284%29.jpg\" alt=\"Courtesy: Quinnipiac Athletics\" \/><\/noscript><img class=\"thumb-image\" data-src=\"http:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/gallery_image-%284%29.jpg\" data-image=\"http:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/gallery_image-%284%29.jpg\" data-image-dimensions=\"2500x3750\" data-image-focal-point=\"0.5,0.5\" alt=\"Courtesy: Quinnipiac Athletics\" data-load=\"false\" data-image-id=\"5da6126ce79a253413354503\" data-type=\"image\" \/>\n          <\/div><figcaption class=\"image-caption-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-caption\">\n<p class=\"\">Courtesy: Quinnipiac Athletics<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">Athletic recruitment is one thing, but these are still \u201cstudent\u201d-athletes. The players must fit into Quinnipiac\u2019s academic profile, and the admissions department gives very clear outlines to the coaches about what requirements each student-athlete needs to be accepted into Quinnipiac, from English language scores to academic grades.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">Andrew Antone, director of international recruitment and admissions at Quinnipiac, says that once the students get to Quinnipiac, the school has several resources to help international students adapt.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">\u201cWe have a global partners program where students are mentored by upperclassmen, and say, \u2018OK, this is how you make the transition,\u2019\u201d Antone said. \u201cWe have global education, where they can be with other students. We have an international student orientation, which I think is a big help for them.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">To continue to attract international students, the university has initiated a new \u201cStrategic Plan\u201d that emphasizes globalization among the steps toward becoming the university of the future. Antone believes that the strategic plan will help make Quinnipiac even more appealing to international students.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">\u201cEspecially with the new strategic plan, I think you\u2019re going to see that number (of international students) grow, given what we\u2019re offering,\u201d Antone said. \u201cThe way that we\u2019re looking forward \u2026 I think what the strategic plan does is force us to look within and change some of the policies and the way we do things to enhance everyone else\u2019s experiences.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>   <iframe title=\"Where do these players come from?\" aria-label=\"Interactive donut chart\" id=\"datawrapper-chart-yTE8y\" src=\"\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/yTE8y\/1\/\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;\" height=\"560\"><\/iframe><script type=\"text\/javascript\">!function(){\"use strict\";window.addEventListener(\"message\",function(a){if(void 0!==a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"])for(var e in a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"]){var t=document.getElementById(\"datawrapper-chart-\"+e)||document.querySelector(\"iframe[src*='\"+e+\"']\");t&&(t.style.height=a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"][e]+\"px\")}})}();<\/script><\/p>\n<p>   <iframe title=\"Where does Quinnipiac mainly recruit?\" aria-label=\"World choropleth map\" id=\"datawrapper-chart-sPpcI\" src=\"\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/sPpcI\/1\/\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;\" height=\"400\"><\/iframe><script type=\"text\/javascript\">!function(){\"use strict\";window.addEventListener(\"message\",function(a){if(void 0!==a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"])for(var e in a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"]){var t=document.getElementById(\"datawrapper-chart-\"+e)||document.querySelector(\"iframe[src*='\"+e+\"']\");t&&(t.style.height=a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"][e]+\"px\")}})}();<\/script><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">In all, there are about 70 international student-athletes from more than 20 countries. That may not sound like a lot with Quinnipiac\u2019s student population of over 10,000 and a core of student-athletes almost 500 deep.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">To the international players though, it\u2019s not about the numbers. It\u2019s about the experience \u2013&nbsp;an experience that has made Quinnipiac athletics more diverse, and more talented.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">\u201cI feel like I\u2019m experiencing the same college experience as other people,\u201d Lai said. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t say it\u2019s any different than how they\u2019re experiencing it.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">Quinnipiac isn\u2019t as well-known as some other Division-I programs. None of the 10 international students interviewed said they knew anything about Quinnipiac before they were first recruited. Once they hear about all the school has to offer them, it\u2019s hard to say no. <\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">\u201cWe\u2019ve closed those gaps with this (soccer) facility, obviously our institution, our campus,\u201d Da Costa said. \u201cAt the end of the day, an international kid and his family want to go to a place where they\u2019re cared about. They want to go to a place where they can study and play at two high levels. They want to go to a place where they can feel safe \u2013 and enjoy. <\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">\u201cAnd we can offer all of that.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">Quinnipiac University athletics features a growing population of international student-athletes. These are their stories.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":107,"featured_media":866,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[66],"tags":[341,30,414,7,81,269,4,241,415,416,183],"class_list":["post-865","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-capstone-projects","tag-bobcats","tag-athletics","tag-college-sports","tag-hamden","tag-international-student","tag-ncaa","tag-quinnipiac","tag-quinnipiac-university","tag-recruiting","tag-senior-projects","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/865","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/107"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=865"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/865\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1745,"href":"https:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/865\/revisions\/1745"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=865"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=865"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=865"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}