In 2003, Spanish footballers Victor Diaz and Pablo Delgado Inglada were leading their U-18 Las Rozas club team to the Madrid regional tournament championship in Madrid, Spain. After three years, the two strikers have finally reunited and are now looking to lead a different squad to a championship — the Wisconsin men's soccer team.

After being redshirted shortly after his arrival to America in 2004, Diaz became a staple up front for the Badgers in 2005, starting 17 of 19 games and tallying a team-high seven goals and 16 points.

While Diaz's numbers clearly speak for themselves, it's his other attributes and characteristics that he brings to the team that have really impressed head coach Jeff Rohrman.

"As good a player he is, he's a better person," Rohrman said. "For a young man to come from Spain — thousands of miles away from his family and friends — to Wisconsin, it takes a lot of courage and it takes a special person to be able to do that, and Victor has certainly done a great job with those adjustments."

While many University of Wisconsin athletes may take their education for granted, Diaz is openly thankful for his good fortune.

"[Victor] is so appreciative of the opportunity to get his education and play soccer at a high level, and that's what is so rewarding and refreshing for all of us," Rohrman said. "All of his teammates recognize it, and it's something that many of us will take for granted."

One member of Rohrman's squad who certainly has not taken his academic and athletic opportunities for granted has been Diaz's friend and Las Rozas teammate, Delgado.

As the 2006 spring soccer season approached, Delgado made his voyage across the Atlantic and joined Diaz in January for the spring academic semester.

"What was nice about Pablo's arrival was that he was able to come in January and get a little bit assimilated and adjusted to the team and to academics before the fall season started," Rohrman said.

One factor that has undoubtedly aided Delgado's transition has been his age and experience. While he holds freshman standing, Delgado is one of the oldest players on the team.

"Pablo's a freshman this fall, but in a lot of ways he's really not," Rohrman said. "He's an older, more mature player who brings some of the nuances and sophistication that some players just don't have when they first get to college."

When asked what the most difficult adjustment has been coming to the States, Diaz and Delgado both agree the language barrier has been a bit of a struggle.

"The language has definitely been the hardest thing to get used to," Delgado said. "I also miss my family and friends, the weather … and just the culture."

While Diaz admits he also misses family and friends, his fascination with American culture has eased the homesickness.

"I think America is great as a country," Diaz said. "I never imagined that I would adjust to this culture so well — I love American people."

While the Spanish sensations praised the education, facilities, and resources they have encountered thus far, they confessed that American food has been lackluster.

"The food here is good," Delgado said. "But mom's food is always better [laughs]. We sometimes cook our own Spanish food … but it's not that good."

Luckily for the Badgers, the food drawback has not affected their play on the field, as both Diaz and Delgado have made immediate impacts this season.

In the team's first exhibition games against Oakland and UW-Parkside, Delgado recorded two goals and two assists while Diaz added a goal of his own. Since then, Diaz has been magnificent, scoring his first career hat-trick against IPFW and earning the offensive Big Ten Player of the Week honor for Sept. 4.

As Rohrman's squad looks to continue its impressive play when they take on Washington and Creighton at the Middleton Cycle & Fitness Invitational this weekend, one thing can be certain — the men from Madrid will be playing their hearts out.