Fresh off national championships and one of the best seasons in ECNL Boys history, four XF Academy players participated in a European tour with the Wynalda Soccer Academy, facing off against some of the top academies in Germany and the Netherlands. 

XF Academy players John Koutelieris, Harper Mikolasy, Alexander Sauerbrei and Oscar Santana all accepted invitations from the Wylanda Soccer Academy to compete in its European tour, a two-week trip where they competed against academies from Bayer Leverkusen, Hessen Kassel, PSV Eindhoven and more. 

"In my mind, I always want to play the best teams," Sauerbrei said. "I love soccer because of the competition, so to play these clubs that everyone knows, it was an amazing experience. The players over there live and breathe the game, and they want to be the best footballers they can, just like we do, so it was great competition." 

The idea was to have Wynalda Soccer Academy players go up against opponents from some of the top European academies to showcase their skill, to gain incredible life experiences, to be seen by European clubs, and ultimately, to play against some of the best competition in the world. 

The result was an undefeated trip, multiple clean sheets, and a statement that American players can't just compete with players in these top academies, but can be measured among the very best of them. 

XF Academy worked with the Wylanda Academy to pick not just the best players for this European trip, but also the right ones. Head Coach Leo Maric, the reigning ECNL Boys Kwik Goal Coach of the Year, said each boy more than earned their spot, and was proud to see them succeed as much as they did. 

"Eric Wylanda reached out to us and asked us if we had any really good players, and I recommended John, Harper, Alex and Oscar because he was looking for specific positions and specific attributes," Maric said. "Those players fit the role he was looking for. Talking it over with Eric and (Director of Coaching) Bernie (James), we came to the conclusion that those four players would be the best for everyone involved." 

For all of the boys, the European trip was an unforgettable experience, but not completely out of the ordinary for them. XF Academy has brought teams to compete internationally multiple times, with boys teams previously competing in England, Portugal and even Japan. This experience allowed them to properly prepare for this trip and be ready for the level of competition along with a significant time change. 

"You just learn so many little things playing internationally, especially how to manage things like diet and sleep," Koutelieris said. "And then when you're in Europe, you're the tourists, so everyone's there to see you. It's added pressure, but it's fun. We're all just super blessed to be able to take trips like these and become the best soccer players we can be." 

Heading into the first game, the boys said they felt like they were underdogs and had something to prove, especially going up against an international brand and powerhouse like Bayer Leverkusen. But once the whistle sounded, it was the same game they had played their whole lives in the United States. Not only that, but it became very clear early on that there was no reason for them to be intimidated by the European opponents; they were every bit as skilled and talented as they were. 

"Everyone was just hungry to win and to show these European teams that we've seen on TV that we're just as good as them," Mikolasy said. "We're Americans, you know? We had something to prove, and we definitely did."

To open the trip, the Wylanda Soccer Academy faced off against two German sides, beating Bayer Leverkusen 4-0, followed by another 4-0 victory against Hessen Kassel just a few days later. The Wynalda Soccer Academy then competed against three Belgian clubs, earning a 6-2 win against KV Mechelen, a 2-0 win against STTV and finally, a 0-0 draw versus OH Leuven. All games were statements that Americans are more than capable in succeeding on the international stage against the best competition in the world. 

"It was a great feeling to get those wins because I definitely thought we were underestimated," Koutelieris said. "Everyone always talks about how the US is so far behind in soccer, but we went out there and showed them that we can compete with them and even better, beat them."

It wasn't just competition against these European academies though. The Wynalda Soccer Academy trained at the pro facilities of PSV Eindhoven and AZ Alkmaar, and was even able to see a friendly between Ajax and Monaco, the first European professional match for a majority of participants.

"We did trainings with clubs like PSV and being able to train under their coaches was really cool because learning their philosophies and style of play was way different," Mikolasy said. "We also played in front of a bunch of European scouts, so to ask them about certain things and what I can improve on, it definitely helped a lot."

The boys returned to the United States with a newfound appreciation for the game, but also for their skill. There are many things the boys will bring back to the XF Academy following the trip, one that will continue to make them the best versions of themselves on and off the pitch. 

"One of the biggest things I learned and brought back here was just the level of professionalism," Sauerbrei said. "Everyone there shows up and is ready to work. That and the mentality of competing every day, in games and in training. That struck me the most and is something I want to bring to the club this season." 

While all of the XF Academy players have Division I commitments, another benefit of the European tour was being seen by international scouts. Since returning back to the States, the XF Academy players have received interest from professional clubs overseas, something Maric says is incredibly proud of. 

"Eric was extremely complimentary of all of the players on the trip," Maric said. "Their manners, how they behaved, their leadership. He named John captain from the first day and they all got a lot of minutes. They got seen by a lot of scouts, and those scouts had a lot of positive feedback as well. At the end of the day, everything is about the players, to give them opportunities. This is their dream, this is what I want to do, playing professionally in Europe. And you have to provide those opportunities, and that's what we do here at XF Academy. Every single time we have the opportunity to get them closer to their dreams and give them a chance to succeed, we take it." 

In the meantime, one more season of youth soccer is on the horizon, and the ultimate goal is still the same: bring home more ECNL Boys National Championships. 

But after a trip with the Wynalda Soccer Academy, the professional dreams don't just stay alive, but seem closer than ever. 

"I just want to continue to grow as a player," Mikolasy said. "This trip opened up a lot of doors for all of us who played in Europe. I've always wanted to play professionally, hopefully in Europe, so this trip fueled that fire for sure."