It's been a decade since the Quincy University men's soccer team advanced to postseason play.

The Hawks prepped for that 1998 season by going abroad, playing five preseason matches in England. The experience was invaluable for a team that went on to post a 14-4-2 record and a 9-1-1 mark inside the Great Lakes Valley Conference, a season that ended with the program's first NCAA Division II Tournament trip.

With 10 starters back from a team that went 12-4-3 last fall, the Hawks are hopeful another foreign excursion will help them play past the GLVC Tournament again this year. On Tuesday, the team announced plans to play a series of three exhibition matches in Germany next month.

"It definitely helped us," said QU assistant coach Mike Carpenter, who played on that 1998 team and will coach the Hawks along with Chris Mackenzie in Germany. "It's no coincidence that we're going this year because we think we have that type of team that we did in '98. To play three additional games and have those additional training sessions might not seem like that big a deal, but it will give us quite a leg up."

Entering his 40th season as QU's coach, Jack Mackenzie's done so much for the program. One of the things a lot of his earlier teams did was play international competition. This will be the team's eighth trip overseas during his tenure. QU's done very well against the foreign teams, logging a 32-11-17 record. He knows this group of Hawks is ready for the challenge that awaits them in Germany.

"I really haven't pushed (for a foreign trip) or looked for one because I didn't think we had the right group," Mackenzie said. "I think we have the right group right now that given this opportunity can come back and make the most out of it."

The Hawks will travel to Quincy's sister city in Germany -- Herford -- and stay with host families.

Between sight-seeing trips they'll get in some practice time and matches against three premier amateur teams.

This trip is similar to what the QU basketball coaches have done the last several years by matching up their teams with Division I competition in exhibition play.

"I have a sneaking suspicion this will be the best competition we'll see this season," Mackenzie said.

While soccer is a primary reason for the trip, Mackenzie wants his players to see another part of the world and experience another culture. That's the reason they'll be staying with families rather than just hunkering down in a hotel somewhere.

"Every trip we've been on, there's been a connection," he said. "There has been somebody on the other side waiting for us, it's a real people-to-people exchange rather than just another tourist driving by. I think that's an important part of the trip."

A group of 20 QU players and coaches will leave Aug. 4. Mackenzie will stay back in Quincy to put the team's 13 freshmen through preseason drills. The freshmen aren't allowed on the trip per NCAA rules. The Hawks will play matches against VFL Hosen, SC Herford and Arminia Bielefeld, an amateur group of players tied to a pro team that plays in Germany's top league.

"I think it's a great opportunity for us as a team," said junior midfielder Andy Kling. "I think it will be a great cultural experience. The competition should be very good over there, so hopefully we'll come back and be ready to compete for a GLVC championship."

Before they try to get him a league title, Mackenzie would like to see his team do something else.

"We've never beaten a German team," he said. "They're the only foreign team we have a sub .500 record against."

Now 0-1-1 against German teams, the Hawks will make their coach proud with a few wins against the Germans.

-- dobrien@whig.com/221-3365