When Jamestown's Phil Boerger was 14, he went to a regional camp for the U.S. Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program and caught the eye of a coach who said there was a goalkeeper from North Dakota worth keeping an eye on.

A few of the other coaches reportedly thought he was joking.

While it's true there aren't many elite soccer prospects coming out of North Dakota, Boerger is bucking the odds. This weekend Boerger is in Orlando, Fla., participating in the U.S. Youth Soccer ODP Thanksgiving Interregional.

"It's a big deal just because of the exposure you get to the coaches and a chance to play at the highest level," Boerger said.

Boerger's story is an unlikely one. North Dakota has had sanctioned high school soccer for less than 20 years, and Jamestown has been among the weaker programs in that time.

But Boerger always took a liking to the sport at a young age and got involved in the U.S. Youth Soccer ODP program.

Things really began to take off for Boerger in the summer of 2004, when he was selected for the U-14 regional pool team.

"They realized that I could play," Boerger said. "I think the coaches thought I was a good athlete, even I didn't have the greatest technique."

Dave Cook, the director of coaching for the North Dakota Youth Soccer Association and the Century High School girls coach, has watched Boerger's development closely

"Phil has really made the most of that opportunity," Cook said. "He just exploded at that regional camp. - For him to jump into that level is absolutely amazing."

Through the program Boerger has gotten the chance to play in Argentina, Spain and Mexico. He also participated at the Adidas ESP, an invitation-only camp for the top 130 high school age players in the country at Windsor, Conn.

Perhaps the best chance Boerger got was competing in U.S. Soccer Federation's U-17 national team camps. Boerger was hoping to earn a spot in the residency program in Florida _ where players go to school and get to train full time with the national team, but wasn't selected.

Although Boerger is still hoping to qualify for the residency program, he also is preparing for a college career.

During the high school season Boerger, a junior, actually rarely played goal, instead playing midfield most of the time to get more touches. Outside the high school program, he has intense regimen he follows.

"I have a coach in Bismarck and in Fargo," Boerger said. "We do drills, and work on diving, technique and positioning. The biggest problem is that I don't get that much experience in game situations."

Boerger would love to get the chance to play