Reaching for the World--Cup, That Is

Greg Kenney is perhaps one of the best professional soccer goalies in the United States.

Harvard men's soccer Coach Mike Getman knows it. That's why the 26-year-old Penn State alumnus is part of Getman's coaching staff. Kenney enters his second year as an assistant for the Harvard progam.

Problem is, not many others know about Kenney.

Sure, mention his name to loyal fans of the Boston Bolts and they'll start talking about his all-star year during the 1989 American Soccer League season, his stingy goals-against average and his clutch saves.

Problem is, there aren't many loyal fans around. The Bolts averaged only 2500 spectators at Nickerson Field in their second year as a franchise. Ever hear artificial turf rustle against the wind? Kenney probably has. Still, he's not complaining.

"The Bolts are doing everything right," Kenney says. "I think maybe they could be doing better with their marketing, but they are treating the players well, building the program."

Last month, the Bolts made the ASL championship series against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, but lost the deciding mini-game at home. Things may be looking good for Boston's other summer pro club: they drew more than 5000 spectators for the championship series and expect to field the same young core of players next year. In other words, they'd like to see Kenney guard the nets again. And again. And again.

Kenney, however, has other thoughts. Dare we say European ones?

"I need to play at a higher level," says Kenney, who played for the New Jersey franchise in 1988. "The ASL was good, but it's not at a high enough level yet. It's good for here, but the number of games you get [20 during the regular season] is just not enough."

"I want to go somewhere where you're training five times a week, seven times a week, twice a day," he adds.

Kenney says he plans to stay in the United States one more year before crossing the Atlantic next fall. Not unlike other aspiring American pros, Kenney hopes to fulfill The Dream: playing for the national team when the 1994 World Cup hits the States.

"I think I have to do some things personally to be ready to play at [the World Cup] level," Kenney says. "I can run and jump and do the things like that but mentally I'm not ready yet."

The U.S. national team though he was ready this year. After one of the team's goalies was injured, Kenney was asked to join the team for the Marlboro Cup tournament at the Meadowlands. He didn't see any action, but that didn't matter.

"To get called means you are still in the picture, which is a good sign," Kenney said. "It's nice to know your name is still in the hat."

But the World Cup hopes will have their obstacles, specifically the severe case of arthritis Kenney suffers in his right wrist because of several injuries there. After playing a lot of this past season in a cast, Kenney will have to have his arm fused to his hand with steel pins in the next few months since he no longer has use of his wrist.

Kenney says the surgery will not affect his career. Not when he's this close.

"I'm just looking forward to getting my hand fixed, get really fit and give it one last shot," Kenney says. "It still hurts [the wrist] when I take the shots. This will allow me to train a lot harder."

And he will, now that he's no longer the fresh-faced rookie out of college. Kenney has always had the skills to be a goalie; now he's thinking like one.

"The lucky thing is that a goalkeeper can play a lot longer. I think now I'm finally playing like a really good goaltender--not just jumping, catching balls, the athletic part of it, but playing smart. I don't make the same mistakes, I don't get rattled."

You probably already knew that.

Jennifer M. Frey contributed to this story.