Valuable Import : Danish-Born Hulgreen a Boost to Mater Dei Soccer

Mater Dei soccer player Kris Hulgreen swears he’s not that different from most American kids.

“It’s kind of like every kid’s dream--to one day play their sport professionally,” Hulgreen said.

But there are dreams and then there are passionate dreams, and Mater Dei soccer Coach Martin Stringer said Hulgreen is as passionate about his dream as anyone he has seen.

“His head gets on with the game,” said Stringer, who grew up in England and played soccer as a youth. “He’s very thorough and focused. Soccer means the world to him. To many American kids, it’s a hobby. To Kris, it’s his life.”

Of course, most American kids don’t grow up in Europe, where soccer is the No. 1 sport. Hulgreen was born in Copenhagen, and lived there until he was 5. But Hulgreen said he never played soccer until he moved to Southern California.

“I went to some games in Denmark and then I started playing AYSO [American Youth Soccer Organization] when I was 7,” Hulgreen said.

It didn’t take long for Hulgreen to pick up the game.

“We had a really bad team but I was the best player on the team,” he said. “It’s probably in the blood. My dad played when he was a little kid. He played until he was 16, but that’s as far as he got. He wasn’t very good.”

Then again, maybe it’s not in the blood. Hulgreen is already one of the best players in Orange County--he was named second-team All-Southern Section Division I last year as a sophomore--and he’s being recruited by several Division I colleges and even a professional team in England.

Last summer, Stringer took his team on a tour of Europe and Hulgreen stood out. Stringer said one of the second-division teams in England spotted Hulgreen and would like him to try out for their team. Stringer said he is trying to set up a tryout over spring vacation.

“It’s not that uncommon anymore for American players to go over and play professionally at a young age,” Stringer said. “I think Kris has a chance. Personally, I’d like to see him go to college first.”

Hulgreen agrees with Stringer.

“I need a year or two of college to get the physical level up--get a little huskier,” Hulgreen said. “I don’t think I’m ready to play professionally yet.”

But it’s hard to judge what Hulgreen is ready for. As a freshman, Hulgreen was pulled up from junior varsity to varsity in the middle of the season. He went on to start at fullback and contribute to Mater Dei’s Southern Section Division I championship.

“Now that I look back, I wish I would have enjoyed it more,” Hulgreen said of the title. “That was kind of a blur. I was a freshman and I wasn’t that big of a key player. I held my own, but I wasn’t the key guy.”

Stringer said there’s no mistake about that anymore.

“He’s holding us together,” said Stringer, whose team is off to a 13-4-1 start. “He’s the boy.”

He has also become extremely versatile. Hulgreen played fullback, his natural position as a freshman. He moved to forward last year and this season, he’s playing the midfield.

“Sweeper is his best position,” Stringer said. “But you’ve got to go forward. You’ve got to score goals. You don’t win games tying.”

Last year, Hulgreen scored a team-leading 12 goals as a forward, and he has five goals and six assists from the midfield this season.

“I ask a lot of him but I ask more of my quality players, and he responds,” Stringer said. “He reads the game superbly. He seems to be a step ahead of everyone else. He’s a natural. If I had a team of Kris Hulgreens, this one would be in the back.”

Hulgreen, who was named the team captain this year, said he doesn’t mind changing positions every year.

“It was different being up front, but it’s kind of nice scoring goals and getting the ball more,” he said. “I just go where I can to help the team.”

Stringer said he doesn’t want to think of Hulgreen going anywhere else.

“He’s the best kid I’ve coached--when he goes, I go,” Stringer said with a laugh.

But when he goes, Stringer said he’d like to follow Hulgreen--all the way to Denmark.

“I’d like to see him play for his country,” Stringer said. “That would be my proudest moment as a coach.”

It would also be Hulgreen’s proudest moment as a player and a dream come true.

“That would be nice--playing for Denmark’s World Cup team,” Hulgreen said. “I highly doubt it would happen. They have a lot of great players. But if I work hard, maybe it could happen some day.”