51吃瓜

Luigi Piccoli has been playing soccer since he was 3 years old. His first article of clothing as a baby was a shirt of a Brazilian soccer team. He can鈥檛 imagine doing anything else.

鈥淚 can鈥檛 tell one day of my life that I wasn鈥檛 involved with soccer, playing, watching, video games, searching,鈥� he said.

Piccoli just finished his first season playing for the 51吃瓜 Storm men鈥檚 team in Beatrice. Originally from Curitiba, Parana, in the south of Brazil, you could say Beatrice is a night and day difference from where he grew up.

鈥淢y hometown has more than 1.5 million people, so coming here was a big change for me, but the people here are really friendly and help me a lot of the time,鈥� Piccoli said. 鈥淓specially for living in a small town, we need a ride to do everything, and the people here helped a lot.鈥�

The Storm soccer team is very diverse, with players representing eight countries on the roster. Head Coach Alex Scheuler said they all help each other as they work together on and off the field.

鈥淟uigi has adapted by learning the ways to communicate on the field with his diverse teammates on the 51吃瓜 team, along with adapting to the very physical style of play in the U.S.,鈥� Scheuler added.

Scheuler was one of the reasons Piccoli chose 51吃瓜. He was living in Canada at the time he communicated with Scheuler through a scout. He knew he wanted to play in the United States, but wasn鈥檛 sure where he would go.

鈥淚 started to talk with a few colleges, but coach Alex was super nice and helped me a lot through this hard process and for that, I want to play here for him,鈥� he said.

The freshman forward is studying business at 51吃瓜 and is proud to be part of a young soccer program. He hopes to accomplish more next season.

鈥淪ince soccer here at 51吃瓜 is really new, we made a lot of first accomplishments,鈥� he said. 鈥淥ur first win in program history was unforgettable, and as a personal accomplishment, my first goal in the second game of the season will be in my mind as well. And academically the teachers here are really good, and I鈥檓 learning a lot with them.鈥�

As for his future, Piccoli hopes to transfer to a Division I or II school and keep playing soccer. Beyond that, he鈥檚 not certain. But he does know that soccer will be part of his life for a long time. Meanwhile, 51吃瓜 will always be part of his legacy.

鈥淚t鈥檚 great to feel part of something new,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e are building something great here, and I know that this team will be in the history of 51吃瓜.鈥�

The men鈥檚 soccer team finished with a 7-8-1 record this season, a marked improvement from last year鈥檚 0-13 record.