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Morgan Marlborough's trip to Guatemala was a gut-wrenching experience.
The Nebraska sophomore played only one game for the under-20 U.S. soccer team recently because she got a stomach bug and was sick for five days.
The Americans won the regional championships for North America, Central America and the Caribbean to qualify for the under-20 World Cup this summer in Germany.
Marlborough still was able to impress the U.S. coaches, who invited her back for more training in Spain later this month. Coaches would meet with the players to discuss their play in training sessions and games, and she received some favorable reviews from USA coach Jill Ellis.
“She really enjoyed having me on the team,'' Marlborough said.
“It helps a lot to get a different perspective from different coaches and different girls. Coach will tell what your weaknesses are and it will help me become a better player. It was just such a good experience.''
The only newcomer, Marlborough got to show what she could do in the second game against Trinidad & Tobago, scoring the first goal and getting an assist in a 4-0 victory. She played the entire contest.
Experiencing a different culture on her first trip outside the U.S. also was one of the highlights for Marlborough. The team did some sight-seeing, though she still had to fit in time for homework.
“It made me realize how nice the U.S. is and how much we really do have as a country,” she said.
MLS coach Kreis still fond of Omaha
The first time Doug Trenerry saw Jason Kreis, he was struck by his size.
“Yeah, he's little, but he's really good,'' the longtime soccer coach remembers thinking then of the 12-year-old, who at that time was less than 5 feet tall.
Kreis eventually did grow — into a 5-foot-8 All-American at Duke and a 12-year professional who spent 11 years in the MLS.
His childhood dreams grew with him — one of which he fulfilled this winter when he coached Real Salt Lake to the MLS Cup in a huge upset of a Los Angeles Galaxy squad featuring David Beckham and Landon Donovan.
Although he moved from Nebraska to Louisiana at the age of 15, he heard from several Omaha friends after winning the title.
“Basically, I learned how to play soccer there,” Kreis said from his office in Salt Lake City. “Omaha still has a fond place in my heart.”
Kreis, now 37, was coached by his parents, George and Hulda, as a youngster because at that time select soccer had yet to gain a toehold in Omaha. Trenerry was one of his first select coaches.
“He was very, very bright and extremely hard working, that's what made the difference for him as a player,” Trenerry said. “There were certainly more athletic players, but he really made himself into a great player.”
The family lived next to Trendwood Park at 132nd and Pacific Streets, so Trenerry said Kreis almost had a soccer field in his backyard. Kreis' mom would say that she was constantly telling her son to stop practicing and come home because it was getting dark. His dad said he tried to take 100 shots a day.
Kreis played basketball and baseball, too, but soccer was his passion.
“When I turned about 12, I became really serious about this as something I wanted to do,” he said. “My only option then was to play overseas, take this as far as I can. It's ingrained in my life.”
Trenerry remembered how the then-Omaha Burke coach put Kreis on junior varsity because the freshman was so small. Trenerry suggested that the coach give him a chance and Kreis ended up being a first-team all-stater.
“Nebraska for me typifies that Midwestern mentality that you get what you work for if you are willing to work hard enough,” Kreis said.
Kreis said he wasn't surprised to hear from so many people from his hometown.
“I think I heard from everybody I ever knew,” he said. “You make some lifelong friendships when you grow up with people.”
Local teams earn regional berths
Seven Omaha-area soccer teams have qualified for the U.S. Youth Soccer Region II championships after winning Nebraska titles.
They will be among the more than 212 teams from the 14 U.S. Youth Soccer State Associations competing for a regional title June 26 to 30 in Beavercreek, Ohio, a suburb of Dayton.
The teams advancing: U15 boys, OFC Elite I 94/95; U16 boys, OFC Elite I 93/94; U17 boys, OFC Elite I 92/93; U15 girls, Toro Booyah; U16 girls, Toro Bravo; U17 girls, OFC Elite I 92/93; U18 girls, OFC Elite I 91/92.
Lincoln native awaits word from U.S. team
Tyler Polak is weighing his options after graduating from the national team residency program in Florida.
The Lincoln native spent 2½ years at the training facility, and in the past year earned a starting role with the under-17 men's national team.
Polak had planned to enroll at Creighton in January, but opted instead for a professional tryout in Germany.
He also hopes to be asked to the Dallas Cup in March, the next camp for the under-20 team.
Polak said he'll spend the spring training while he awaits developments. Polak's team made it to the round of 16 in the under-17 World Cup last year.
“It went well,” he said. “I started every minute, which is good.”
— Marjie Ducey
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