Somewhere in Seattle on Tuesday night, New England Revolution defender Jay Heaps was probably keeping tabs on his teammates.
It must have been an odd feeling for Heaps, who hasn't missed a MLS game since Sept. 15, 2007 and doesn't take many nights off in other competitions either, to monitor his Revolution teammates as they tussled with Harrisburg in the third round of the U.S. Open Cup instead of wearing the kit himself.
For the first time in a long time, Heaps had somewhere else he had to be and something else to do. Heaps left the Boston area on Tuesday to link up with the United States national team ahead of the CONCACAF Gold Cup after being named in the 23-man squad last week.
"It feels great," Heaps said prior to his departure. "I'm as shocked as anyone. I'm as excited as anyone as well. For me, it's something you hope for and dream about, but it's been a long time. You stop listening for the phone to ring."
It had been a long time since the phone had rung for Heaps. Although he has never appeared for the United States, Heaps has featured in national team squads before. Since he hadn't received a callup since 2005, the 32-year-old Heaps probably figured his national team hopes were finished.
A funny thing happened on Heaps' way to international obscurity. The veteran defender continued to improve from year-to-year, reducing his mistakes and adding different facets to his game. His form over the past couple of seasons placed him among the prospects for a call-up to this MLS-dominated squad, making his ensuing selection a form of vindication for the work he has put in and the consistency he has shown.
"For right now, I hope that's what it is," Heaps said. "I hope I can help this team out, especially in the next couple of weeks with the Gold Cup. If there's anything I can do, I'll play anywhere on the field. I'm pretty confident that in any position I get into, I'll be able to help the team out."
Heaps' team-first attitude probably helped out his national team candidacy and his versatility didn't hurt either. Revs coach Steve Nicol plugs Heaps -- who has spent the majority of his career as a right back -- in just about anywhere along the back line, no matter whether he elects to play in a three- or a four-man setup. Heaps said he doesn't mind filling that role that for his club and won't mind if he is asked to fill a similar role for his country.
"I'll do anything," Heaps said. "Hopefully, they know that. It's what I do with the Revs. Left back, right back, center back. I just want to win games. There'd be nothing better than to win a Gold Cup here."
Nicol said he's thrilled that Heaps will get the chance to continue his quest for a first cap -- one that could even come at Gillette Stadium against Haiti on July 11 -- but said there are other ramifications for his Revolution teammates.
New England mustered a squad of just 15 players in Heaps' absence in a 2-1 extra loss to USL-2 Harrisburg on Tuesday night in New Britain, Conn. and Nicol said his squad will desperately miss one of its leaders during the minimum of two MLS games he is expected to miss.
"It's a double-edged sword," Nicol said. "It's fantastic for him, but if there was possibly a worst time for it, then it's now. It's obviously well-deserved. On the other side of the coin, the timing couldn't be any worse for us."
Kyle McCarthy is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
