The 15-year-old has played soccer nearly all of her life, and has had more than a little success with it. She has earned a spot on the national girls U-16 team, has played internationally with a regional Olympic Development Program team, and has won four straight State Cup championships with her club team, the Avalanche.

Those close to her sometimes say Ohai should back away from her chosen sport, if just a little, to prevent getting burned out. But that is not likely to happen.

"I would never give up soccer for anything," Ohai said. "I'll probably play until I'm 50; I'll never stop playing."

Currently a sophomore at Cottonwood High School, Ohai recently returned from Japan, where she spent nearly two weeks training with the U-16 national team. Her team played professional-level teams in Japan, and earned two wins and a tie.

"It was a good experience, but it was really different," Ohai said. "And, it was really hard."

Despite the cold weather, the national team practiced twice per day between games. While the Americans were more athletic, she said, the Japanese were more skilled. Ohai came home with an appreciation for soccer in the United States.

"It made me love playing in America," Ohai said. "There are so many more opportunities, even though there is no professional league."

Ohai did not score a goal while in Japan, but she started all three games at center-midfield, perhaps the most important position on the field. Coaches say her biggest strength is her ability to play anywhere on the field.

Ohai's Avalanche coach, Joanna Barney, uses her like the national team does: Barney puts her where she needs some extra punch.

"She's an all-around player," Barney said. "She can shut down some of the best players in the country, and she can score goals."

Ohai's abilities on the field have helped other players from Utah gain national attention.

"The level of play, and the level of the player, is growing in Utah," Barney said. "Megan is one of the premier players that has raised that bar for other players to get up to."

Ogden's Jessie Baddley also traveled to Japan with Ohai, and Park City's Elli Reed was in the U-16 team's training camp. Park City's Kelly Isleib is in the player pool for the U-20 national team and plays with the U-17s.

"She is a rising star," Greg Maas, technical director for the Utah Youth Soccer Association, said. "She is following a list of players that have had success in our program."

Other Utah natives have had success with the national youth teams: Stephanie Ebner and Liz Bogus both have had success in recent years. But Ohai does not seem to care about her place in Utah soccer history. For her, the sport is special in a personal way.

"It is like the most fun thing in the world," Ohai said. "When I play, it's like the one time of day that I don't have to worry about anything and I can just have fun."