A Tale of 8 Countries, 14 Men, 1 Woman, and 1 Soccer Ball

Faced with three young African immigrants who were struggling in school, Lauren Mednick found the key to begin unlocking their academic potential: a soccer ball.

Now, over three years later, Mednick leads a “family” of 14 young men from eight different countries. She’s created an undefeated soccer team that plays together and hits the books together too, transforming their lives in the process. Her players are finding success in soccer, joining elite athletic programs; and in academics, entering a prized private school.

The heart of the process is a weekly soccer practice followed by a team study session. But Mednick devotes herself to the team around the clock. She is in constant contact with her players, providing rides, tutoring, mentoring, coaching, friendship, and help in any way she can.

On a recent Monday evening, Mednick’s team, the Elm City Internationals, gathered for its weekly practice on the basketball court at the John Martinez School on James Street in Fair Haven. It was the day after the Internationals’ regular indoor soccer game at CFC Arena in Hamden, where the team has not lost a game in three years.

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