Fox Cities News

For the second consecutive year, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh head women’s soccer coach Erin Coppernoll will lead the U17 Wisconsin International girls soccer team in the Donosti Cup in San Sebastian, Spain.

The Donosti Cup is an annual international soccer tournament that has been held in San Sebastian since 1992. The event attracts hundreds of teams and has grown from 32 teams in its inaugural year to 910 teams from 28 countries this year, including 109 from the United States. Wisconsin International is also sending a U14 girls team and a U15 boys squad.

“I look forward to going back to Spain and understanding the little differences in how to play and get wins with the set up over there,” Coppernoll stated. “Last year, I learned a lot. How to sub and how to play the game with only one ref to get wins and advance. This year having the older girls will be fun to see how far we can get. I am looking forward to working with the group of girls that are representing Wisconsin in Spain!”

Coppernoll is departing on Friday, June 28, after concluding the Titans’ youth summer camps. Her team will start the tournament in Group D and face Martutene Kirol Elkartea (Sports Association) at 1:15 p.m. local time on Tuesday, July 2.

Athletes on the 17-player U14 team include six who competed in the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) state tournament in 2023, four members of the WIAA Division III Plymouth High School state champions, and four sets of sisters.

The team will play Moha Academy B on Wednesday, July 3 at 11 a.m. local time before wrapping up group play against defending tournament champions Sporting Clube Portugal. The tournament concludes on Sunday, July 7.

Current Titan Gabby Born (So., Fond du Lac) competed in the 2017 edition of the Donosti Cup. “Playing overseas was a very enriching life experience. Not only did I play soccer but also met many kids from other countries,” she remarked. “One of the most memorable moments was when locals would come to our school yard and play games of pick-up with us. This trip was the highlight of my soccer career thus far and a great opportunity to compete at a higher level.”