Scott Deopere
Player of the year

``He was just talking to me, asking me how my Christmas went and stuff like that. Then, all of a sudden, he said, `I was going to call you on Christmas, but I figured you wouldn't mind an after-Christmas
present.

Scott Deopere

Scott Deopere

By Steve Tappa,
staff sports writer

When the phone rang last Tuesday and Scott Deopere was told the president of the NCAA was on the line, nothing but bad thoughts ran through his mind.

``I thought I was in trouble for something,'' the former Rock Island High School three-sport standout confessed with a laugh.

Instead, Deopere got great news. He'd been selected Division III's National Soccer Player of the Year.

``He was just talking to me, asking me how my Christmas went and stuff like that. Then, all of a sudden, he said, `I was going to call you on Christmas, but I figured you wouldn't mind an after-Christmas present,'|'' Deopere said.

``When he told me I was the Player of the Year, I was in absolute shock. I almost dropped the phone. I could barely talk after that.''

Luckily, the Wisconsin-Oshkosh star didn't need to make an acceptance speech right then and there. Deopere won't do that until Jan. 20 at the NCAA's all-divisions, all-American awards banquet in Indianapolis. The trip will be the senior's second straight appearance to the ceremony. A unanimous first-team All-American this past season, Deopere earned second-team honors last fall.

In Division III history, Deopere finished fifth all-time in career goals (74) and 13th in career points (173). His 26 goals and 61 points this past season rank ninth and 13th, respectively, in Division III's single-season annals.

Deopere also ranked fifth among the national leaders this past season in goals (1.3) and points (3.05) per game.

No wonder Oshkosh reached the national Final Four.

However, a torn meniscus in his right knee prevented Deopere from playing in the last two games of the national tournament. Deopere has been rehabbing the injury since then and is on track to be deemed 100-percent healthy on Jan. 9.

``I would trade it all in for a chance to play in the Final Four,'' said Deopere, who had 11 game-winning goals this past season and earned Team MVP honors for a fourth time. ``This award does help take away some of that disappointment, though.

``It's a thrilling, humbling thing when you consider out of all of the players in the nation they picked me for this honor. Except for the knee injury, this caps a real storybook ending for me.

``Coming out of high school, I couldn't have imagined things working out better for me than they have.''

Actually, the Wisconsin state league's two-time Player of the Year does have one more wish on his Christmas list.

``I want to play at the next level,'' said Oshkosh's career and single-season record holder for goals and points. ``I think I can do it, and winning this award should help me open some doors.''

Deopere's designs on a pro contract get serious at the awards banquet, where professional coaches from all over the country convene to meet with prospects.

The four-time All-WIAC performer already has some strong ties after playing last year in the Pro Development League at the urging of some pro coaches attending last January's award's ceremony.

The PDL is the soccer equivalent of Class A minor league baseball, except the players don't get paid and retain their collegiate eligibility. That allows the PDL to draw the best underclassmen from Division I college soccer.

Deopere said playing against the Division I types was an adjustment, and he started slowly for a 9-9 team in Lexington, Ky. However, Deopere finished strong, posting 13 goals and nine assists.

``It was a real learning experience,'' Deopere said of his May-to-August stint in the PDL. ``And the best thing I learned was I could compete with players from Division I. That was not only a big mental hurdle but a crucial question I had to answer if I wanted to play professionally.

``Soccer is different from baseball. There are not scouts everywhere watching. It's a lot of word of mouth. So, just playing in the PDL helped my visibility with a lot of pro coaches.''

While Deopere will return to the PDL this season if necessary -- there are teams nearby in Rockford, Chicago and Milwaukee -- he's hoping the next rung up on pro soccer's ladder isn't out of his reach.

Just above playing spots in the PDL are the paid positions of the ``A League,'' soccer's equivalent of Triple-A baseball, with teams based in big-league markets such as Milwaukee, Minnesota and Tennessee.

The A-League feeds into Major League Soccer (MLS). The MLS also conducts an annual draft, with this year's picking party on Feb. 5.

``I've been told there's a slim chance I'll get drafted, especially after getting this award,'' said Deopere, who also played baseball and basketball at Rocky. ``But, the big thing in this game is having contacts and my college coach knows the (MLS) coach in Kansas City. So, we'll see.

``I'd like to at least be in the A-League this year. But, if it doesn't work out, I'd consider going back to the PDL, as long as it's a winning team. A PDL team that qualifies for the U.S. Open Cup gets to move up to the A-League, so I could make it that way, too.''

Going to Europe is another option, Deopere said. His college coach has contacts there, too.

``It's an exciting time,'' he said. ``I have a lot on my plate.''

However, that plate may not be big enough for Deopere's final few college classes. With leagues starting up in the spring, any classwork this term could be disrupted, delaying next December's expected graduation for Deopere.

``That's why I'm hoping I end up playing A-League in Milwaukee, so I'll still be able to go to school and finish up this term,'' Deopere said. ``If I go somewhere else, that won't be possible, obviously. But, whatever happens, I'll finish up eventually.''

Staff sports writer Steve Tappa welcomes your comments at tappa@qconline.com