Soccer player returning to her roots

Carmen Reyes always thought the sport of soccer could open doors that she might not otherwise have an opportunity to walk through.

She’ll find out how true that is this summer when the sport takes the Coeur d’Alene High graduate to her paternal roots. Her father’s grandparents were born in Puerto Rico, and that heritage will allow Carmen Reyes to play for Puerto Rico’s first Women’s Premier Soccer League team.

The Puerto Rico Capitals F.C. will be based out of Caguas, a town about 25 miles from the country’s capital, San Juan.

Carmen’s family roots run deep in Puerto Rico. Her grandfather, who died last summer, was born in San Juan. Her great-grandmother was born in Caguas. Her other great-grandmother from her father’s family also was born in Puerto Rico. Carmen Maria Reyes was named after both great-grandmothers.

“I’m just astonished to have this opportunity,” said Reyes, who is finishing up her freshman year at the University of Montana.

Reyes headed to Montana last fall thinking she would redshirt during her first collegiate season. But Montana coach Neil Sedgwick liked what he saw during preseason practices, and he decided she could play right away. She ended up playing nearly 30 minutes per match.

She wasn’t even used at the position she played during high school. She was a standout defender, especially her senior season when Coeur d’Alene captured the State 5A championship. But at Montana, she played mostly midfielder.

For the Puerto Rican WPSL team, though, Reyes will play defender. She was given an invitation to play for the team without having to attend the tryout held in Caguas the first weekend in April.

All the players on the WPSL team have to either be natives or have family ties to Puerto Rico. Reyes fit the latter criteria.

“We extended offers for half of our roster spots to players based on resumes, references and experience,” Puerto Rico coach Robert Parr said. “In Carmen’s case, we felt her credentials as a youth and collegiate player would help us succeed.”

She will travel to Puerto Rico in mid-May as soon as she finishes school at Montana. The team’s first match is May 24, and the season continues through late July with 15 regular-season matches. The team’s home matches will be aired on its Web site.

One of the main reasons Puerto Rico was granted a WPSL franchise is because the country wants to develop a stronger national team that can become more competitive at World Cup and Olympic levels, Parr said. Six current members of the country’s national team will play on the WPSL team.

WPSL teams are comprised largely of players with collegiate eligibility. A smaller faction of players is top high school-age players and an even smaller number of players have just completed their college careers.

The WPSL consists of 48 teams in five conferences. The Puerto Rico team will play in the WPSL’s South Conference against Florida teams from Miami, Tampa Bay, Palm Beach and Orlando.

Parr was hired as Puerto Rico’s coach after spending the last five years as women’s head coach at Georgia College and State University, an NCAA Division II program.

Reyes is believed to be the second player from North Idaho to play in the WPSL. Former Sandpoint standout Jesyca Rosholt, who went on to play at Oklahoma State, played on the River Cities F.C. team near St. Louis last year. The team folded after last season.

Reyes hopes the WPSL opportunity will open the door to a return invitation next year. Her ultimate dream is to play on the Puerto Rican national team.

She also believes the immediate benefit is it will better prepare her for her sophomore year at Montana.

Spanish is the primary language in Puerto Rico. Reyes took three years of Spanish at CdA, but hasn’t had to use it in more than a year.

“I’ll have to brush up on it,” she said.

Even though Parr is receiving Reyes sight unseen, he has an idea the type of player he’s getting.

“She’s grown up playing in the U.S. club system and played for a good (high school-age) club team,” Parr said. “She also has ODP (Olympic Development Program) experience, and she’s in a (NCAA) Division I program where she got regular playing time last fall. Those are the types of athletes who fill out WPSL teams and succeed in the WPSL. She’s been playing all spring for her college team so she’ll be coming in with a high fitness level.”

Being able to go to Puerto Rico is the start of fulfilling Reyes’ overall dream.

“My main goal in life is to have as many cultural experiences as possible and travel around the world,” she said. “So why not start some place where I have family ties?”

Reyes admits she’s more than a bit anxious.

“It’s a good nervous,” she said. “I’m nervous about what I’m going to bring to the table and what (her teammates) are going to bring to the table. I’m going to be playing against some of the best players in the world. I have a lot of questions. What am I getting myself into? Can I play at that level? I sure hope I can. I’m planning on it.”

She’ll find out soon.