MCNABB TO PLAY SOCCER AT OAKLAND UNIVERSITY

Cape Central senior Bret McNabb entered last year's soccer season with high expectations.

Then he broke his leg and his season was shattered. The all-state competitor was forced to watch his teammates go on without him.

But like they say, no pain, no gain.

All of McNabb's pains and trials paid off recently when he signed on with Division I Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan.

McNabb, a four-year starting midfielder, was recruited by several other Division I colleges.

But he chose Oakland because it ranked in the top 50 of the nation's 198 soccer programs.

"First of all, I liked what they did last year," McNabb said. "They won their league and were the top 50 in the nation and that was attractive. They got a lot of guys coming back and I think we'll do good next year, too."

McNabb, who has played soccer since he was six years old, was an all-state honorable mention performer as a junior and was a two-time team captain, but his broken leg limited his playing time this past fall.

Before he went out, Central was 3-0 and hadn't allowed a goal. In the next eight days, Central lost five games. The Tigers had some other injuries, too, but McNabb's absence was felt.

"We really missed him," said Cape Central coach Tom Doyle. "We wanted to get him back real bad and he was an inspirational leader for us. He was always on the sidelines pumping the kids up.

"He played one game with the broken leg so that says something about him right there."

"That was hard to sit out my senior year and watch everybody play," McNabb said. "Ironically, I was fine about a month after the season."

That's when McNabb really started turning some heads. He was a member of the Metro Football Club out of Edwardsville, Ill., and his team took second place in a four-day tournament in Tampa, Fla.

"Club play is how you'll get picked up," said McNabb. "It's really hard to get recruited just through high school because college season is going on the same time as the high school season in Missouri."

"He always gives 110 percent and he works hard and knows the game," said Doyle. "He's smart and aggressive, quick and has got good stamina. He could play a whole game and not be substituted for. He's got good skills and plays well both ways."