THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, June 29, 1996 TAG: 9606290396
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY REA FARMER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: 89 lines
This time last year, Matt Olson was kicked back in his office, handling business for a cellular phone company in Seattle.
A full-time public relations staffer, Olson swapped shifts and ate up vacation time pursuing his dream of playing professional soccer. For three years, the company laid claim to his body for 40 hours a week, but his mind was elsewhere. He was passing time, waiting for the continually-delayed debut of Major League Soccer.
Finally, the league opened play this year. Olson scraped together the last of his vacation time in December and went to San Jose for the open tryouts for the Clash. He arrived to find more than 600 players vying for the chance to play. More than 75 of them were goalkeepers.
``I didn't tell my co-workers what I was doing,'' Olson said. ``It was such a long shot.''
He spent three days training in front of coaches, watching them walk the field and cut players. With so many people, there was little opportunity for Olson to demonstrate his skills. A mere 10-minute window to grab a dream. Then the chance would be gone.
Olson survived the cuts and was one of the final four. San Jose picked two to send to the MLS combine in Los Angeles, a showcase for top players worldwide. All the MLS coaches would be there. Olson did not make it. He was selected as a reserve player and was told to be ready. He could be invited to the combine on a moments notice.
In January, the combine started and Olson still had not received a call. So he made a choice. He had patiently waited for his chance, now it was time to take some action. He called in sick to work, bought a ticket and flew to L.A. Olson showed up unannounced on the second day of the combine. And was admitted.
``It was a tough situation,'' Olson said of risking his job for a shot at a soccer career. ``I knew this was my love and where I wanted to go, so it was worth taking the chance.''
The gamble paid off.
``I was very lucky,'' Olson said. ``I ran into the national team coach and a few others that when I was younger were my coaches. I was very fortunate that they let me come into the combines. I missed a day of it and I was the 21st goalkeeper. I went through that week and did really well and was drafted in the 13th round. My life was a full sprint from there.''
Olson was drafted by D.C. United. His bags were packed and he was literally greeting the movers at the door when he received a call. Forget D.C., he was traded and changed his ticket to fly to New York to join the New York/New Jersey MetroStars. Home of World Cup goalkeeper Tony Meola.
He trained with New York for less than six weeks when he was put on waivers. He was picked up by the New England Revolution for one game while the keeper sat out a red card suspension, then was reunited with D.C. A few weeks later, he was sent to the Mariners for the game against Long Island. He never left. Olson has played in eight games, posting five shutouts and compiling a Select League-low .063 goals against average.
``I was packed up and ready to return to D.C., which was kind of my hub,'' Olson said. ``It ended up that I did well and stayed on a little longer and played a couple of games. Things kind of worked out. We haven't lost a game that myself, and even Sterling Wescott, has been in.''
With Olson on the field, the Mariners have compiled an 8-0 record. He was the starter on a four-keeper roster against Long Island. Two weeks later, he was the only uninjured keeper the Mariners had left. At that point, he was invited to play for New England again while the Revolution keeper sat out yet another red card suspension.
``Any opportunity to go up there, I'll jump at,'' Olson said. ``But I know the opportunity was just short term again. I'm more than happy to be settling here knowing that at some point there will be another opportunity. The main thing now is that I'm playing games and I get to work on different aspects of my game. I'm happy with the way things are going.''
After a three-year layoff filled with coaching at the University of Washington and year-round competitive men's league soccer, Olson has a true appreciation for what he has accomplished. He played for national champion Indiana in college, then spent a year touring Europe and practicing with premier teams, like Holland's Ajax. Settling into an 8-to-5 lifestyle was never what he had in mind. Although he learned from the experience, he is glad that at least for now that is behind him.
``For three years I was in the working world, but I think it made my drive all that much stronger to play professional soccer,'' Olson said. ``You go from someone else organizing your life to now being responsible.''
He has no regrets, not even when comparing his paychecks.
``There's a price for happiness,'' Olson said. ``I'm not tied to a desk and a telephone like I was. I'm definitely grateful for that.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by L. TODD SPENCER, The Virginian-Pilot
After spending three years working behind a desk, Matt Olson
realized that he's only truly at home working in a soccer goal. He's
8-0 as the Mariners' goalkeeper this year. by CNB