Playing sports at the collegiate level provides the interesting element of travel for student-athletes. Sure, there are trips out of state, even to different parts of and across the country. But for some, including former Newtown High standout athlete Shea Murphy, the travel included a special overseas experience this past spring.

Murphy, who will be a junior lacrosse player at Division I Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Ga. this coming school year, got to spend nearly a week in Europe with her teammates — playing the game and sight-seeing. The team spent four days in London, and a day each in Oxford and Paris.

“All of it was absolutely amazing. We had guided tours in most places and time to explore on our own. It was a really cool experience to freely explore different cities that I’ve never been to with some of my best friends. We got to go on the London Eye on the first day, which happened to be my birthday, and it was incredible,” Murphy said.

“One of my favorite days was in Oxford, where we got a tour of the school by a current student. She showed us a lot of filming sites for Harry Potter and Narnia and we got to go into one of the colleges and see how the students live,” Murphy said.

This was not Murphy’s first taste of Europe.

“The only city I had been to before was Paris , but I really enjoyed going back to places that I remember and wandering around the city. I kept pointing out places that I remember and loved,” she said.

During the trip, Kennesaw played Team England, Team Scotland, and a couple of squads from Wales — a U21 lineup and a senior team. Murphy’s team had plenty of success, defeating three of the four opponents, losing only to England.

Lacrosse in Europe is quite different than our collegiate game. Murphy said the rules reflected those of the high school game in the states, with more stoppages, for example.

“It took us about a game or two to adjust to the rules we used to always play with,” Murphy said.

Eye protection is required for Murphy and her teammates but their European counterparts did not have to wear them, and only about a third did, she said. Murphy added that this was noteworthy given a more aggressive style of play from some of the overseas athletes.

“It was an experience I’ll never forget and I feel super fortunate to have been able to go. Every team should do this because it is the ultimate team-bonding experience and made me that much closer with my teammates,” she said.

Murphy said it took some time to adapt to the college game after her high school career. In college lacrosse there is a shot clock which helps create a faster pace on the field.

“I feel like it’s two different games,” she said.

College sports, of course, are quite demanding. The time management piece — juggling classes along with practices, watching game film, weight lifting, and travel for games — is what is toughest for Murphy, not unlike many, if not most, student-athletes.

Playing down south affords the opportunity to lace up the cleats and take to the field any time during the winter unlike up here.

“That’s my favorite part is just being able to play all year-round,” said Murphy, a midfielder who, this past season, played in 17 games, picked up ten ground balls, and caused six turnovers.

Murphy, who was a Newtown Bee sports intern during her senior year at NHS, is majoring in public relations and minoring in coaching; her dad, Matt Murphy, recently took on the head coaching job with the Newtown High boys’ basketball team after coaching Shea and sister Moira on the girls’ squad

Being back in town to see her family and coaches is enjoyable for Murphy. This summer, she has helped out with coaching youth athletes at the Murphy Basketball Camp, run by her dad and his brother, Mike Murphy.

“I love coming back. I think the best part is having my sister in all of the sports I played and seeing all the coaches,” Murphy said.

Sports Editor Andy Hutchison can be reached at andyh@thebee.com.