ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. – NC Wesleyan College head women's soccer coach Beverly Biancur is having quite the summer.
Before completing another successful NCWC soccer camp in late June, Biancur attended the Women's World Cup in France from June 14-23 with former NCWC goalkeeper Vanessa Batchelor (2012-2015) on behalf of the Harvard Sports International Organization. The organization helped numerous collegiate soccer coaches from around the country attend the World Cup and conduct interviews with other coaches.
Biancur interviewed NCAA Div. I coaches such as Jen Rockwood at BYU and retired George Mason coach Jac Cicala as well as retired Wake Forest head coach John Daly.
Biancur attended six matches while she was there including two U.S. group stage matches. She saw the Americans triumph over Chile and Sweden en route to winning their group. She was also there to see two thrilling Argentina matches with Italy and Scotland, a Norway-Korea battle, and also witnessed one of Marta's final matches with Brazil, which she said was exhilarating to see.
"It was a trip of a lifetime and that doesn't even do it justice," Biancur said as she raved about her glowing experience in France. "It was incredible to see elite level soccer and be surrounded by iconic figures in coaching throughout the event."
"Also seeing the youth get so excited for a sport that I have spent my entire life involved in was also very memorable."
Biancur and USWNT head coach Jill Ellis also have a connection as they have both attended Robinson High School in Fairfax, Virginia and played under retired coach Jim Rike.
Biancur was also able to attend the Normandy Memorial on its 75th anniversary of the famous World War II D-Day landing. Biancur, whose father spent time in the military, is a self-proclaimed history buff as well.
This isn't the first trip that Biancur has taken overseas either. Over the last ten years, Biancur and her women's soccer team, with the help of the volleyball team as well, has fundraised money for years to travel to Germany, Belgium and Holland in 2009, Barcelona in 2014 and Italy in 2018.
Along with a professor, the students were given a one credit elective to make the trip to study sacred sites and churches in Barcelona in 2014 and music in Milan and Florence, Italy in 2018.
In 2018, the women's team would also scrimmage 3-4 matches with different Italian soccer clubs. When the Lady Bishops played against the Italian club Roma in 2018, three of the Italian national team members were on that Roma club, which provided great experience for the Bishops.
Biancur and fellow volleyball coach Vicky Gentile plan to head back to Italy in 2021 with their teams to visit southern Italy and Tuscany.
Another piece of the World Cup experience can be found here:
http://www.rockymounttelegram.com/College/2019/07/11/N-C-Wesleyan-picks-up-pieces-after-storm-1.html
