Most students don’t travel over 12 hours by plane to get an education and play a collegiate sport, but three members of the Women’s Soccer Team at St. Edward’s University have traveled the distance to do just that.

Sophomores Emilia Göthe and Kate Orkild and Freshman Riana Soobadoo have traveled from Sweden, Australia, and England respectively to play for the Hilltoppers.

 For Göthe the travel from her hometown of Stockholm, Sweden takes 17 hours, but that doesn’t compare to the time it took for her father to accept her choosing soccer over dance.

Before competing in soccer at age 10, she was dancing four times a week. A school teacher noticed her soccer talent during recess and encouraged her to try out for a team against her father’s wishes.

Although Göthe’s father coached men’s soccer at a high level, he did not initially support his daughter’s decision. She recalls him telling her, “no you should not do that, you’re a girl. You should