Of the 60 players remaining at Dallas Sueno MLS 2008, two are from Ogden, Utah: 23-year-old midfielder Byron Marquin and 23-year-old defender Jose Rodriguez. They traveled 23 hours by car last weekend to keep their dreams of playing professional soccer alive, but the trip was well worth it.
"It's surprising," Rodriguez said. "I didn't think I would be chosen to be among the final 60. There were so many players and it's hard to believe that they chose me among the final 60."
Rodriguez admits that even though he had some close friends also participating in Sueno last weekend, he still didn't know what to expect before the event started.
"It was nice," he said. "It was different and I have never gone to a tryout like that. It was difficult to understand the other players because we all had different styles and things like that. But I think it turned out pretty well for me."
The 23-year-old defender was slated to hit the field for the last scheduled game on Friday afternoon. But after an impressive performance, he was asked to return on Saturday. Again Rodriguez did well, earning the praise of coaches and the opportunity to play one more time that day.
After getting called back twice, Rodriguez admits that his mind started filling with thoughts of his name being among those making the cut to 60.
"I thought I had a good chance because after every game, they would always call two or three guys over from the 22," he said. "So, that made me feel like I had a good chance."
Originally from Morelia, Mexico, Rodriguez has been in the United States for about 12 or 13 years. He played varsity soccer at Ogden H.S. and was on teams that placed second in the state tournament when he was a junior and won the state crown his senior season.
He, Marquin and several other friends who also made the nearly full-day drive from Ogden to Frisco last weekend, plan to drive to Pizza Hut Park once again. The plan was to leave on Thursday evening so that Marquin and Rodriguez could get a day of rest before playing on Saturday afternoon.
Rodriguez currently plays for Ogden's Lobos PFC. They have a friendly scheduled against Real Salt Lake on March 24 but he doesn't know if he will be part of that match since he could -- and hopefully still will -- be involved with Sueno.
A big fan of Mexican side Morelia and Chicago Fire striker Cuauhtemoc Blanco, whom Rodriguez calls his idol, he has only been playing in the back for a short time.
"I played as an attacking midfielder but just started playing defense about a year ago," he said. "I feel more comfortable back there. Playing attacking mid, I know what the midfielders and forwards are going to do and that helps me be a better defender."
He is pleased with being one of the last 60 but knows it will take more to make the next cut, which will be to 18 players.
"I guess whenever I'm on the field, I will have to do what I have to do," he said. "I will have to not make mistakes, not lose the ball and go hard at people. That's what it's going to take. It would mean a lot (to be one of the last 18). It would mean that I'm really close to that professional level."
No matter how things turn out this weekend, Rodriguez considers it an honor to be one of only two players from Utah in the round of 60.
"That makes me feel good," he said. "I feel like I'm kind of representing Utah. Maybe people will realize that we have some good players here."
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
