“They went down there and didn’t even score a goal,” Contreras said. “So that was disappointing.”

Maybe they could have used a future version of the 5-9 midfielder who has twice earned all-state, all-metro, all-region and all-conference awards at White Bear Lake. The National Soccer Coaches Association of America also named him a high school All-America in 2008.

Before moving to the United States in 1999, Contreras developed the skills and style that would eventually propel him into Minnesota’s soccer spotlight. Soccer was the only sport that people played when he was growing up. After watching his older brother play, he decided to discover it for himself.

“I never had a coach or anything,” Contreras said. “I just started playing with all of the older kids and learned that way.”

When he arrived in the United States, he was ahead of the game. Now, after graduating from White Bear Lake, Contreras earned a scholarship to play soccer at Wisconsin-Parkside this fall…continue soccer article here.