They knew they couldn't further their professional soccer career in their own country, so two Cuban players decided to defect and leave everything behind. Now they're in Charleston, playing for the Battery.

On a fresh-cut field and in a brand new country, Osvaldo Alonso and Lester More kicked off their American soccer careers. While playing a game in Texas, the two men decided to defect from Cuba in pursuit of their sport.

"I had decided six months prior while still in Cuba when I found out that we were coming to the States," Alosno said. " I knew that, in the past, some teams were interested in me, but I couldn't leave."

It was a hard decision for both men and their soccer dreams came at a cost.

"I had to leave everything behind," More said, "leave everything I had worked for to come here to a new country, learn a new language and live in a new world."

"It was especially tough for my family," Alsonso said.

But now the two men are adjusting to a new culture and language, taking on challenges that will have them scoring goals both on and off the field.

"You just have to be strong and give it your all," Lester said.

Alonso and More said they're not ruling out the pros, but for right now it's all about Charleston.

"So far, I like the team and I like Charleston. Just last week, we played three good games," Alonso said.

"We're doing this one day at a time," More said. "We're here and we have to do our best while we're here."

Cubans are the only people who are granted refuge under the "dry feet, wet feet policy." Under that provision, Cuban residents who flee to the United States have a chance to remain in the country if they reach dry land and can later apply for citizenship.

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