In the spring of 1988, soccer player Ted Gillen pursued the chance to play in the 1988 Olympics, but the opportunity slipped out of his hands when he was knocked out of the competition before the Games even started.

After getting picked to be a member of the U.S. National All-Star soccer team in his second year of playing on Penn State's defense, Gillen was cut from the Olympic team in May of 1988 and delegated to its B team.

Gillen was first asked to train for the national team after the national team coach had watched him play in the fall of 1987. Co-captain of the soccer team and considered, by Coach Barry Gorman, to be its "most experienced defender," Gillen has played on and off for the national team for the past year and a half.

Last March, Gillen got another shot to play for the national team, known as the World Cup development team at the time. The team was at the beginning stages of training for the World Cup qualifying games when Gillen traveled with them to Asuncion, Paraguay. He played in one of the team's two winning games against two top professional clubs.

"They were just a tune-up," Gillen said. "They weren't actually World Cup qualifying games."

The Paraguay games were a second shot for him to prove his abilities as a defenseman.

"When I did get my shot, I didn't perform up to my potential," Gillen said. "(I) still wish I was a regular."

Although Gillen is not a regular player on the national team, not many of its players are regulars. The competition is strong. Players range from collegiate players and professionals to those who excel at the district, regional, and state levels. None of the players are paid, including the professionals. Instead, the players are on a stipend.

The selected players are invited to train with the National team. After training, a player may then get picked to go on a trip with the team to play in some games, but he is not permanently on the team. A player must prove himself every game, in order to keep playing with the team.

In all, Gillen has made three full international appearances and has taken eight trips with the national team, his last trip being in March.

After his stint with the national team at the left (full)back position, Gillen is back to co-captaining the Lions as its sweeperback.

"Playing sweeperback is not really my most comfortable position," Gillen said. "I don't really believe I'm a sweeperback, but that's where Coach Gorman wants me to play. That's where I'm best for the team, so that's where I'm going to play."

At sweeper back, he said he has to make sure everyone is marked up, and that the defense is secure while he directs things from the back.

Playing a pressure-filled position is routine for Gillen.

"Teddy (Gillen) is one of those players that is cool and calm under pressure," Gorman said. "When Teddy has control of the ball, he has a feather-like touch."

"Remaining calm is just one way to be successful. If you panic under pressure situations, mistakes will happen," Gillen said. "You just have to get yourself to relax and be confident on the ball. I don't think there are any techniques or anything other than that, just simple confidence on the ball and yourself."

Having played among both professionals and collegiate players, Gillen noticed a few differences between the two.

"Its a lot easier playing at Penn State, with guys I play with every day throughout the season," Gillen said. "I know my own teammates' tendencies."

Gillen said that playing with the national team means that "everyone is a step higher, and a better player, but at the same time, you don't know their tendencies."

He also pointed out that in playing on the national team, the amount of times a player starts is not as important as the amount of playing time he had.

As only one of two players with college eligibility on the Paraguay trip, Gillen learned that when playing with professionals, the game is as much a mental one as a physical one.

"I've learned a lot on the field," Gillen said. "Probably the biggest thing is the mental aspect of the game. You really have to be able to understand it to know what's going on."

Gillen first began learning the aspect of the game at the age of five, when his brother, older by two years, started playing. Gillen eventually became captain of his team at Toms River East High School (N.J.) during his senior year and was an all-state, all-county and all-shore choice.

In his freshman year at Penn State in 1986, he captured a starting defender spot. He was named to the Atlantic-10 all-tournament team in his sophomore season. Last year, as a junior, Gillen took on the role of co-captain along with Bert Eckelmeyer. But, he was thrust into the sole leadership role as captain when Eckelmeyer was injured for the season.

Now in his second year as co-captain, along with center forward Jan Skorpen, Gillen said he possesses a different attitude this year.

"I had a lot of trouble yelling at people. I don't really believe I was ready for the leadership role last year," Gillen said. "I'm going to try to be more authoritative on the field and on telling people what to do."

"I want to do the best I can and I want the team to live up to its potential and win as many games as possible."

Expected to graduate in December of 1990, Gillen said he has not given a lot of thought to playing for a professional team in another country, but it is something he would consider.

"I'd like to continue playing as far as I can," Gillen said.