Canadian native Hector Marinaro had a desire to head home this summer, so he decided to take his entire soccer team with him.

Marinaro, who serves as the head coach of the John Carroll University men's soccer  program, saw a unique opportunity to combine a return trip to Canada with a unique preseason practice and competition schedule. The result was eight days in and around the Toronto and Mississauga area that is highlighted by three matches against teams from Canada.

"The trip to Canada enables us to get a jump start on preseason," said Marinaro. "It gives the guys a great opportunity to work on team unity and play some teams that we would never get a chance to play during our normal season. It will give me an opportunity to see some players in game action that haven't had a chance to play during our varsity schedule. We have some unrelated soccer activities scheduled to let the guys hang out with each other and get away from the everyday soccer life of preseason training."

The Blue Streaks departed on Saturday, August 7, and are expected to return to University Heights on Sunday, August 15th.

Per NCAA rules, a team is permitted to participate in a foreign tour once every three years. This tour is considered part of the most recently completed academic year, which means only student-athletes who were enrolled full-time at John Carroll during the 2009-2010 academic year are permitted to participate. Marinaro and assistant coach Dejan Mladenovic are accompanying 24 JCU players to Canada.

On the schedule are visits to the CN Tower in Toronto, a stop at Niagara Falls and a match on the final day in Canada with the Mississauga Falcons -- which just happens to be the club Marinaro played with growing up.

"Part of this is definitely personal," said Marinaro. "I am using my local knowledge to make this a special trip for everyone. My best friend has recommended a great place for lunch sandwiches, and I also know this retired chef of a great Italian restaurant we used to go to that will be cooking our pasta lunches for game days Tuesday & Thursday."

Jeff Kosek, a senior player for the Blue Streaks, will be corresponding from the trip and his "travel entries" will be posted on jcusports.com.