By Rob Centorani

Staff Writer

The last time the Oneonta State women’s soccer team traveled abroad, the Red Dragons won the Division III national championship later that year.

It’s safe to say Red Dragons coach Tracey Ranieri would like to see history repeat itself.

The women’s soccer team — unquestionably O-State’s most successful sports program — begins a 10-day trip to Italy on Sunday.

"Every three years, the NCAA lets you go out of the country, and that travel helps us to recruit," said Ranieri, wh[an error occurred while processing this directive]ose team traveled to Bermuda in the summer of 2003. Later that year, the Red Dragons defeated the University of Chicago, 2-1, to win the school’s only national team championship. "It’s a tremendous experience culturally and for the maturity of our players. It brings us together."

Five players who contributed to that 2003 Division III national championship — December graduate Tricia Jaeger, Laura Morcone, Sarah Tauber, Colleen Wolbert and Meghan Putnam — will accompany the team on the trip. Even though the last four of those players will graduate Saturday, they’ll join the remaining returning players on the trip.

The Red Dragons will play four games against Italian club teams. They’ll travel to Rome, Milan, Florence, Como, Pisa and Venice, and also spend a day in Switzerland.

Ranieri said more than 300 people attended a dinner at the Elks Club on April 29 that helped finance the trip.

"That overwhelming support put us over the top," said Ranieri, who has a 217-79-24 record over 16 seasons at O-State. "I can’t believe so many community people are interested in our program."

Ranieri said the soccer program raised more than $50,000 over the past two years for the trip.