JACKSONVILLE — Daniel Forry and the rest of the John Brown University (NAIA) men's soccer team have come up with a neat way to beat the heat while prepping for the start of their upcoming season.

The Eagles will be departing at the end of July for Belfast, Northern Ireland where they are scheduled to play a trio of exhibition matches against three formidable opponents.

And while temperatures here are forecast to reach the high 90's today, the weather in Belfast is only expected to top out at around 63 degrees.

The JBU squad will take on the Glentoran Football Club reserves, or seconds as they are call in Ireland, on Aug. 4.

The Glentoran association is regarded as one of the top two semi-professional squads in Belfast.

Three days afterwards the JBU men will play Clifton Football Club U19, with the trip wrapping up the following day with a match against the Crusaders Football Club U19.

“I have been looking forward to this trip because I have never been oversees,” Forry, Jacksonville High School's all-time leading scorer, said in a recent interview.”It should be exciting for all of us.”

Forry said that he understands that Irish soccer is much rougher than the American collegiate version and that he expects to return to the States with a few bruises and scrapes.

If Forry's first season at JBU is any indication, Forry will probably sleep well on the long plane flight back home from Ireland, as he should see plenty of time on the pitch.

As a freshman in 2011, Forry, a midfielder, started each of the Eagles' 19 matches and ended the year as JBU's top scorer — Forry punched in seven goals and added on assist to finish with 15 points.

“When I first went up there I didn't expect to start, so I was really surprised when I was able to start in every match,” Forry said. “That is what I am most proud of.”

JBU finished 8-9-2 overall and went 5-3-2 (third place) in Sooner State Athletic Conference play.

And with that being said, Forry said that he expects his club to improve off of that mark in 2012.

“I think that we will be even better this year because we only graduated three (players),” he said.

The Eagles, who are coached by John Miglarese, will open the regular season on Aug. 17 when they journey up to Olathe, Kan. to face Baker University.