Day 9 - Como, Italy and Match #3

Our day in Como, Italy was wonderful. The weather was perfectly warm and sunny. Breakfast started early but the team and staff didn’t have to be on the bus until 10 a.m. so everyone took their time waking-up. After a buffet breakfast at the Hotel Cruise in Como we set-out to explore the city.

Como is first known for its high rate of tourism and second for its production of silk. A bit of history for you: the city had many mulberry trees and the silk worms were fed the leaves of these trees. The people of Como became experts at silk production and manufacturing goods such as scarves. Como is still known for its silk goods but today most of the silk yarn comes from Asian countries. Como is also known for Volta who was an important scientist to the Como community. He invented the battery. Voltage = Volta; you see the connection.

Statue of Volta

Our first stop today was at a local silk factory where we hoped to purchase scarves and learn more about the history of the city. Unfortunately for us the silk factory was closed – the owner had become ill and we weren’t able to make our purchases there. As you can see from the photo below the team kept a smile on their faces and we decided to head to the city center in search for other shopping and views of the beautiful lakeside area. We were able to locate another SETA store in Como.  Many equisite scarves, ties, and wraps were purchased.  Maybe one is for you.

Team outside closed Silk Factory with smiles.

On the way to Como’s city center we received a very important NEWSFLASH! Elena, our Italian tour guide, whose friend is friends with George Clooney’s girlfriend, filled us in that George and his girlfriend had broken up just days before. To our disappointment we would not be seeing them sunning themselves by Lake Como.

Once in Como, just a 10 minute ride from the hotel, we were able to walk around the city and explore as we had no scheduled tour. Many had lunch at local cafés, dining on the ever-popular pizza, pasta, and sandwiches. Como is a small city and this allowed the group to go in separate directions without getting lost and take advantage of some free time. Some shopped, others visited the beautiful parks close to the center of town and a couple even took a boat tour of the lake. We spent about 4 hours in the city of Como and then transferred back to our hotel for a nice siesta before dinner.

Lake Como

The team met back-up at 5 p.m. to have for our pregame meal. We weren’t as hungry as usual as we have been used to eating at 8 p.m. and 9p.m. at night but the team had a game at 8 p.m. so we had to eat beforehand. We indulged in a pasta salad with ham, cheese, pearl onions, peppers, capers, and olives. Our next course was 2 giant sandwiches – one ham and one turkey. The team ate some and took the rest of it to go for after the game. We finished off with an apricot tort and boarded the bus for our game vs. FC Como 2000.

Waiting to board bus for Match #3

Match #3 – Brown vs. FC Como 2000

After a 30 minute ride through the country side and small towns we arrived at the sports center for Match #3 vs. FC Como 2000, a member of the Italian A1 league.  As soon as we exited the bus at 6:45 p.m. with the temperature around 85 degrees, we knew it would be a scorcher.  The field was beautiful, but turf.  If you’ve ever played on turf, you know it’s much warmer on the field.  To help cool the field they turned the sprinklers on for 10 minutes about an hour before kickoff.

The referee blew the starting whistle just before 8 p.m. and the game was underway.  FC Como had a number of speedy strikers and they moved the ball well as a team.  From the beginning whistle we knew it would be a tougher battle than the previous two matches.

Each team had a number of opportunities in the first half but nothing too dangerous.  In minute 26, Eliza Marshall made a beautiful touch pass through the defense for Kiersten Berg to run up about 40 yards from goal.  Kiersten out muscled the last defender and slotted the ball pass the keeper from 14 yards out for Brown’s first goal of the game.

Two minutes later Allie Kagawa made a run from the left back position putting together four consecutive give and goes with her teammates as she streaked through FC Como’s midfield and defense leaving her with chance on goal.  But Como’s keeper made a great save.  The half ended, Brown 1 – FC Como 2000 0.

In the second half Brown began to dominate play, winning numerous 50/50 balls, making quick accurate passes, and gaining multiple corner kicks.   Gloria Chun and Katie Rushton made some dangerous overlapping runs to create scoring opportunities.  FC Como’s keeper made a number of saves.

Just minutes before the end of the second half, Sara Hebert took a terrific pass from Maddie Wiener at the top of the box.  Sara took one touch to beat her defender and then shot the ball with her left foot into the lower right corner of the net past the diving keeper.

Soon after the ensuing kickoff the referee blew the three distinct whistles signaling the end of the match.  Final score: Brown 2 – FC Como 2000 0.  Another great win for Brown in a hard fought match.  The victorious team boarded the bus for the ride back to our hotel and asked if they could celebrate by going to McDonald’s for McFlurry’s.  Who would have guessed McFlurries over gelato on our last night in Italy?

Pregame line up and coin toss