Click photo to enlarge

    Local fans might not recognize him, considering he seldom plays for Real Salt Lake.
    But Chris Seitz is among the most promising goalkeepers in the country.
    Once denied a place on his local youth club unless he agreed to be the back-up keeper, the 21-year-old has blossomed to the point that he will compete for time in goal behind presumptive over-age starter Brad Guzan at the Beijing Olympics. And if Guzan wobbles at all, expect Seitz to get a shot, after impressing as the starter at both the Under-20 World Cup last summer and the Olympic qualifying tournament earlier this year.
    Seitz came to RSL as the No. 4 pick of the 2007 Major League Soccer
How he did

    Real Salt Lake s backup goalkeeper did not find his role to be any different for the Americans; he did not play in any of the three preliminary games. His teammates allowed an extra-time equalizer against the Netherlands that kept them from the quarterfinals.
SuperDraft - the highest goalkeeper ever chosen, except for Guzan two years earlier. But he has been stuck behind starter Nick Rimando, playing only three league games since coming to Utah.
    Still, Seitz has enjoyed considerable international experience in that span, helping continue his rise to the top of his sport. Many see the former Maryland All-American as the next superstar American goalkeeper, in the mold of Kasey Keller, Tim Howard, Brad Friedel and Marcus Hahnemann. Even Rimando called him "the next big thing."
    Now, the Americans just have to get through a strong preliminary group that includes Japan, the Netherlands and Nigeria, after missing the Olympics four years ago.
   
    Web site: None
    Competition dates: Aug. 7-24
   
    Timeline:
    Born March 12, 1987 the youngest child of Michael and Sharon Seitz, in San Luis Obispo, Calif. Has an older sister, Caitlin.
    Soccer start: In 1991, showing talent in a variety of sports at an early age, starts playing soccer, though he's later turned down at his first attempt to make a club team.
    Finally joins his first club team in 1996, the SLO Fire, only after agreeing to play back-up goalkeeper. Ultimately shows great promise, and wins starting job the following year.
    Joins SoCal United in 2002, a prominent club team in Thousand Oaks, Calif., some 125 miles from his home in San Luis Obispo. Parents drive him back and forth for practice and games for two years before he moves in with friends for his senior year at Thousand Oaks High School.
    Having blossomed in 2003 while working with goalkeepers coach and former Olympian Ian Feuer, now with the Los Angeles Galaxy, wins the first of back-to-back Parade All-American awards, leads SoCal United to national club championship and becomes member of the U-18 national team.
    Graduates from Thousand Oaks High School in 2005, and chooses Maryland over UCLA, Notre Dame and Santa Clara for college. Leads Terrapins to NCAA College Cup championship as a freshman. Plays 10 games for U-18 national team.
    Finishes college career in 2006 with 28-5-3 record, and earns first start for U-20 national team in 3-0 victory over Wales.
    Quits school early to turn pro in 2007, and Real Salt Lake makes him No. 4 overall pick of Major League Soccer SuperDraft. Wins first invitation to training camp with U.S. senior national team, after dazzling during U-20 World Cup in Canada. Plays only three games for RSL as a rookie, behind starter Nick Rimando.
    Leads U-23 national team this year through qualifying for Beijing Games in China, despite having not played a league game for Real Salt Lake all season.