Soccer enthusiasts relish meeting Olympic star

Hundreds of kids and their parents showed up Saturday at the Sportsplex athletic facility on St. Charles' far west side for what turned out to be a celebration of soccer in the Tri-Cities area.

Many of them were there to see U.S. Olympic soccer hero Carli Lloyd, along with Emma Hayes, head coach of the Chicago Red Stars professional women's soccer team.

"A place like this and an event like today's really helps in developing young players," Hayes said.

By the time Lloyd began signing autographs and shaking hands, the line stretched from one end of the complex to the other.

"Turnout was very good, and we were really happy with this morning," said David Parker, who manages the facility. "We're in a huge soccer community here, and we're getting a broad range of ages to use the facility."

The appearances were part of a daylong open house at the facility, and players of all ages were there to enjoy it.

"My parents tried every sport with me, but I like soccer because it's competitive and you can play it anywhere," said Sarah Nyaeme, 12, of Batavia. "This was fun today, and I saw a couple of people from my school who were also here."

Anders Kauserud of St. Charles, who plays soccer and also coaches his 11-year old daughter Natalie, said that the turnout showed just how popular his sport is in the area.

"The St. Charles area is a hotbed for soccer and it's just getting stronger," he said.

Players like 12-year-old Kristen Corcoran of St. Charles, whose team postponed a scheduled practice to later in the day after the festivities had wound down, were clearly energized by the brush with fame.

"I was excited to come here and meet them," she said of the big-name visitors. "They were all really nice to us."

And for many of the youngsters whose parents drove them to the facility to meet Lloyd, who scored the winning goal in the 2008 Olympic gold medal game against Brazil, it was an opportunity to stoke their dreams of athletic greatness by meeting someone who is living hers.

"She was like us, once," 12-year-old Courtney Morrison of St. Charles said. "So maybe one day I can be like her."