It was quite a turnaround for Santos, who needed convincing from Hartford coach John Natale to play last fall.

"John heard that I was going to transfer but wasn't going to play.  He told me I'd regret it and he convinced me to play.  I'm grateful to him for giving me the opportunity to start all over again at Hartford."

Santos arrived at Hartford as a junior following a two-year career at Division II Southern Connecticut State University.  She made the step up to Division I soccer last fall and earned America East co-Midfielder of the Year accolades as well as America East All-Conference First Team honors.  She was also named to the New England Women's Intercollegiate Soccer Association All-New England First Team.

A four-year varsity starter at Naugatuck High School, Santos was first approached about playing in Portugal when she was 16.  Sam Lopes, one of her youth coaches and now the head coach at the University of New Hampshire, first broached the possibility of making the overseas trip.  A Portuguese descendant, Lopes had a soccer contact in Portugal who could help with the process.  Santos was intrigued by the idea but nothing came of it at the time.

When Santos arrived at Hartford she learned that Amelia Pereira, a 2013 Hartford graduate, had played in Portugal.  After completing a successful first season in which she helped the Hawks to an 11-6-3 record, Santos learned the opportunity to go to Portugal might still exist.

"John had the same contact in Portugal that Sam did," said Santos.  "He asked if I'd be interested in going over there and it was immediately all I could think about."

Santos had to put together a highlight tape from her junior season at Hartford and send it over.  That was the first step in a long process necessary to make the trip possible.  Santos, whose parents were born in Portugal, already had her dual citizenship but she still needed to get a Portuguese passport.

Still, there were no guarantees that she would be asked to make the trip.  Her original hope was to just go over and practice with the team in the summer.  But when Santos heard back after sending the highlight tape she was asked if she would be interested in going to Portugal in March to compete in the Algarve Cup. 

Santos has always followed international soccer closely but usually more on the men's side.  She didn't fully comprehend what the Algarve Cup was all about.  But she soon learned that the Algarve Cup annually brings together the best teams in the world and is considered an important competition for teams to prepare for the World Cup.  As such, Santos realized she would be playing with and against some of the best players on the international stage. 

 "I knew that it was a major tournament and that major teams would be there but I've followed men's soccer more so I didn't know as much about the women's side," said Santos.  "When I found out I was super excited.  I had to ask myself if it was really happening."

Santos was contacted on February 25 and told she needed to be in Portugal by March 1.  With her passport finally in hand, she departed for Portugal three days later.  By the time she left it had finally hit her that she was now a member of the Portuguese National Team.

"They met me at the airport and told me we would be practicing that day.  I had a few hours and my roommate's family showed me around Lisbon.  I saw a little bit of the culture but after that it was all soccer."

With her family's roots in the country, Santos had been to Portugal a few times with her parents when she was growing up.  But the quick transition to a different country and a different language was still a bit of a challenge.

"All of the girls were very nice and welcoming but it was a lot to get used to, especially with Portuguese being my second language," said Santos.  "My roommate was someone who goes to school in Texas and just came to America a few years ago.  Luckily she was able to help me.  I could communicate pretty well but I got a lot better speaking Portuguese just the within the 12 days I was there."

Santos said all of her teammates play professionally in Europe and make soccer a career.  Some play in Germany and others play in France.  For her, speaking a different language was nothing compared to the challenge of competing at that higher level and in a different style of play.

 "At Hartford, we base our style of play around possession soccer," said Santos.  "Over there it's very technical.  The players are all very fast and physical.  It's very intense.  It took a little getting used to but it was great to see just how fast it is.  We ended up training twice a day and I got so much out of it.  Seeing what the players who play my position can do really motivated me a lot.  I'm definitely taking what I learned back here and it will make me a better player."

Santos' parents were able to make the trip to Portugal to see her play in her team's final game of the competition against Russia.  She earned her first cap signifying her first time playing in international competition.  Some world-class players have literally hundreds of caps.  Santos hopes she'll have the opportunity to get another one.

"I would love to do it again to get more caps.  The whole experience just turned out to be amazing.  My parents came over and it was really nice to be able to see them.  It all went by so fast and I had a blast.  The coaches were amazing and the food was great.  My goal is to go back if I get the opportunity."

A Health Sciences major, Santos is back on campus now.  She had to catch up on her schoolwork when she returned and is looking forward to her senior season beginning in the fall.  Santos keeps in touch with her roommate from Portugal who is also back in school in Texas.  She was happy to return to Hartford and see her friends.   

"My teammates at Hartford were really supportive of me.  They wanted to hear all about my trip when I got back.  I love this school and my team and I feel really motivated by this experience.  It makes me want to play at that high level with my team here."

Not too bad for someone who thought her soccer career might be over less than a year ago.