Richmond lacrosse teams strengthen bonds, serve communities around Europe
The Spider men's and women's lacrosse teams spent time in the Netherlands, Spain, and Portugal thanks to donor generosity.
February 5, 2026
Studying abroad as a Division I student-athlete can be challenging. Demanding schedules, academic pressure, and financial constraints can make it difficult for Spiders to find the time and resources to travel during the school year.
Through the power of Richmond Spiders donor generosity, the Spider men’s and women’s lacrosse teams had the opportunity to visit Europe this summer, participating in activities that combined cultural immersion, teambuilding, athletic skill development, and community engagement.
After the spring season concluded in May 2025, the women’s team began their international journey in Amsterdam. In addition to exploring the city, the team attended the Dutch Club Nationals tournament, where they hosted a lacrosse clinic and exhibition game. They also coached a youth lacrosse club and hosted P.E. classes at local schools. The trip concluded in San Sebastián, Spain, where they hiked, surfed, and sampled traditional cuisine.
“Traveling with my teammates and best friends was an unforgettable experience,” said junior Jemma Peterkin. “I’m so grateful we had the opportunity to immerse ourselves in different cultures and explore exciting new places.”
Fresh off their first NCAA Tournament victory, the men’s team traveled to Lisbon, Portugal, where they visited the beach, took a cooking class, and volunteered to clean and repaint a community gymnastics club. They also played with the Lacrosse Scotland men’s team (who flew from Scotland to meet the Spiders) before ending with a tour of Seville, Spain, and kayaking in Lagos, Portugal.
“I loved spending time with teammates in a social and non-competitive setting,” said junior Gavin Creo. “It was a very fulfilling experience to be able to do unique activities in Europe, and I will carry those memories with me forever.”
Richmond Athletics teams are permitted by the NCAA to take an international trip once every four years, but the trips are typically not covered by the University’s budget. Dan Chemotti and Anne Harrington, head coaches of men’s and women’s lacrosse, respectively, are grateful for donor support in making this experience possible.
“Ultimately, we wouldn’t have been able to go without their generosity,” Harrington said. “It’s such a special thing we can do with the team, and it only happens once every four years. I’m not sure I can fully convey how powerful and unique the experience is.”
“Because of donor support, we can offer our Spiders an elite student-athlete experience, and we ask a lot of them in earning that experience each year,” said Chemotti, who was named the 2025 Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year. “These students deserved to go on this trip, and having it made a reality was incredible.”
Spider student-athletes also have opportunities to travel abroad through EnCompass, the Center for Global Engagement’s award-winning flagship program. Learn more about this impactful donor-supported initiative.
Through the power of Richmond Spiders donor generosity, the Spider men’s and women’s lacrosse teams had the opportunity to visit Europe this summer, participating in activities that combined cultural immersion, teambuilding, athletic skill development, and community engagement.
After the spring season concluded in May 2025, the women’s team began their international journey in Amsterdam. In addition to exploring the city, the team attended the Dutch Club Nationals tournament, where they hosted a lacrosse clinic and exhibition game. They also coached a youth lacrosse club and hosted P.E. classes at local schools. The trip concluded in San Sebastián, Spain, where they hiked, surfed, and sampled traditional cuisine.
“Traveling with my teammates and best friends was an unforgettable experience,” said junior Jemma Peterkin. “I’m so grateful we had the opportunity to immerse ourselves in different cultures and explore exciting new places.”
Fresh off their first NCAA Tournament victory, the men’s team traveled to Lisbon, Portugal, where they visited the beach, took a cooking class, and volunteered to clean and repaint a community gymnastics club. They also played with the Lacrosse Scotland men’s team (who flew from Scotland to meet the Spiders) before ending with a tour of Seville, Spain, and kayaking in Lagos, Portugal.
“I loved spending time with teammates in a social and non-competitive setting,” said junior Gavin Creo. “It was a very fulfilling experience to be able to do unique activities in Europe, and I will carry those memories with me forever.”
Richmond Athletics teams are permitted by the NCAA to take an international trip once every four years, but the trips are typically not covered by the University’s budget. Dan Chemotti and Anne Harrington, head coaches of men’s and women’s lacrosse, respectively, are grateful for donor support in making this experience possible.
“Ultimately, we wouldn’t have been able to go without their generosity,” Harrington said. “It’s such a special thing we can do with the team, and it only happens once every four years. I’m not sure I can fully convey how powerful and unique the experience is.”
“Because of donor support, we can offer our Spiders an elite student-athlete experience, and we ask a lot of them in earning that experience each year,” said Chemotti, who was named the 2025 Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year. “These students deserved to go on this trip, and having it made a reality was incredible.”
Spider student-athletes also have opportunities to travel abroad through EnCompass, the Center for Global Engagement’s award-winning flagship program. Learn more about this impactful donor-supported initiative.