Having a Ball (and kicking it too)

[img1]Early in his soccer years at Kent Parks, Ely Allen was too busy having fun to notice how good he was. Now a leading scorer for one of the top-ranked college teams in the nation, Allen still approaches the game the same way.[HTML_REMOVED]

[HTML_REMOVED]"I was just playing for fun back then and I still am; it's fun,"; he said.[HTML_REMOVED]

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He was the 2004 Washington state Gatorade Player of the Year, a McDonald's All-American, a member of the U.S. national U-18 team and recipient of numerous Pac-10 honors; his awards have come early and often. [HTML_REMOVED]

[HTML_REMOVED]"He's probably the best attacking player that this state has produced in a decade in terms of natural ability, on-the-ball fluid execution of technique and a nose for goals,"; coach Dean Wurzberger said.[HTML_REMOVED]

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Regardless of his decorated distinctions, the junior forward has always remained self-effacing and unmotivated by the accolades; he chooses to focus instead on the opportunities yet to come.[HTML_REMOVED]

[HTML_REMOVED]"I've received a lot of awards along the way and they're great, but they're in the past,"; Allen said."I want to look to the future.";[HTML_REMOVED]

Recalling his early days, Allen has fond memories of playing soccer with his first recreational coach, his father. Despite the large amounts of outside attention that his son's talent attracted, Allen's father Tim acknowledged his child's level-headedness. [HTML_REMOVED]

[HTML_REMOVED]"He's very humble,"; Tim said."He's got a great perspective on everything and that's probably what I'm most proud about.";[HTML_REMOVED]

When Allen reached ten years of age, coaches from more competitive premier league teams showed interest in his talent. He credits his continued growth as a player to the guidance of a now familiar face, which came into his life at that time.[HTML_REMOVED]

[HTML_REMOVED]"It really took off for me when Seth [Spidahl], an assistant coach here, started coaching me through the Olympic Development Program,"; said Allen. [HTML_REMOVED]"That's pretty much where my career blossomed.";[HTML_REMOVED]

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Heavily recruited by colleges all over the nation, Allen eventually chose UW over Santa Clara, Oregon State, Northern Illinois and Saint John's. [HTML_REMOVED]"We recruited him hard and were very lucky to get him,"; Wurzberger said."Credit Seth. Seth really knew him inside-out and told me that we had to get him.";[HTML_REMOVED]

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While it didn't take long for Allen to adjust to college play -- he won the Pac-10 Newcomer of the Year award for his freshman season -- adapting to the academic pressures of college proved a bit more difficult.[HTML_REMOVED]

[HTML_REMOVED]"First I was kind of lost. It was hard to go to class and then practice,"; he said.[HTML_REMOVED]

Now in his third year at the UW, Allen's maturation as a student athlete hasn't gone unnoticed.[HTML_REMOVED]

[HTML_REMOVED]"He has grown a lot since his freshman year, particularly in his academic performance,"; Wurzberger said.[HTML_REMOVED]

Allen started as left midfielder for the Huskies, but last spring Wurzberger decided to play him up front with forward

Kevin Forrest. Employing two different playing styles to achieve shared success, Allen and Forrest have combined for 16 goals so far this season. Each has already been named a Pac-10 Player of the Week.[HTML_REMOVED]

[HTML_REMOVED]"When we decided to play Ely up front with Kevin, we said that those two will be the most dangerous set of forwards on the West Coast, maybe the nation,"; Wurzberger said.[HTML_REMOVED]

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Apparently their coach was right.[HTML_REMOVED]

In fact, the two junior forwards have dominated so much that they have even coined their own tagline.[HTML_REMOVED]"We call it 'Thunder and Lightning,'"; said Allen."We both score goals, but Kevin is the guy that beats people up: He's the thunder, I'm the lightning.

I'm kind of quick and sneak around.";[HTML_REMOVED]

And how does 'Thunder' describe it?[HTML_REMOVED]

[HTML_REMOVED]"Eli's like [Thierry] Henry, with more precision, speed, technical skills and finesse,"; said Forrest."I'm more like [Wayne] Rooney. I'll hit people and crash into a defender. I'm a little more physical, but the whole thing is just for a good laugh.";[HTML_REMOVED]

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Always in search of a bit of fun, Allen offered his suggestion as to why he and his fellow soccer players are not often recognized on campus.[HTML_REMOVED]"Maybe it is just because we're a bunch of little white guys,"; he said.[HTML_REMOVED]

All jokes aside, Allen enjoys a more vintage form of entertainment off the field: Nintendo 64.[HTML_REMOVED]"I live with [teammate] Eric Blythe and a couple other guys and we're big N64 guys,"; said Allen."We have four controllers, all the games and can play that for hours. I'll beat anyone. Who wants to challenge me?";[HTML_REMOVED]

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When Allen's father spoke about his son's life off the field, video games came up again.[HTML_REMOVED]"He can play video games until the sun goes down and comes up again,"; he said.[HTML_REMOVED]

Allen is a fan of Arsenal, especially all-world forward Thierry Henry. Yet he also claims allegiance to the Seahawks, the Sonics and the"unbeatable"; 49ers of the 1990s. The fleet-footed goal-scorer also confesses to an affinity for freestyle. [HTML_REMOVED]

[HTML_REMOVED]"I know they have a Husky Nation CD,"; said Allen."I'll blow that out of the water if you give me a studio.";[HTML_REMOVED]

However, an area of less confidence for the ex-Kentridge High School star is his right foot. A natural leftie, Allen describes the other as just"something to stand on."; His coach seems unworried and is enthusiastic about Allen's overall skills.[HTML_REMOVED]"When he gets the ball, he's one of those guys where you get to the edge of your seat,"; said Wurzberger."He's got the kind of skill and ability that people pay money to see.";[HTML_REMOVED]

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Confident in his growth in the college game, Allen claims his greatest achievement as playing for the UW and representing his school.[HTML_REMOVED]"On our team everyone is positive and everyone gets along,"; Allen said."Being on this team is the highlight for me.";[HTML_REMOVED]

That's Ely, with his team first all the way.

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