Former Xavier prep Rozeboom hopes to make it to soccer's version of 'The Show'

WASHINGTON - He's been living out of a suitcase and in a hotel for longer than he can immediately recall. Lance Rozeboom has to sit back and try to add all the days.

“Six nights in D.C.,” Rozeboom said. “Then 11 days in Florida and back to D.C. I'm headed to Arizona on Monday for 10 days, then it'll be back to D.C. again. Then we're headed to South Carolina for a week.”

He's not complaining. Not one bit. It's just part of the deal right now.

“No, no,” Rozeboom said. “I can deal with living in a hotel a little while longer.”

Whatever it takes to fulfill his dream. Rozeboom, 22, is attempting to make the final cut for Major League Soccer's D.C. United.

The Walker native, Cedar Rapids Xavier graduate and former Cedar River Soccer Association club player would be the first former Metro prep to play in MLS. He already is the first one to get drafted, taken in the second round (26th overall) of the 2012 MLS Supplementary Draft in mid-January.

“It is looking good, I will say that,” Rozeboom said. “This has always been my dream. My brother got me into soccer, and it's been that way since I was 5 or 6. It's very exciting, yet nerve-racking at the same time, because I don't have that contract, yet.”

Rozeboom is a midfielder who helped the University of New Mexico to an undefeated regular season in 2011. He was a second-team all-American, taking part in the MLS Player Combine in early January.

Rozeboom recently survived the first round of United cuts and is listed on the club's website as one of 24 players, 11 midfielders. Each MLS team keeps 30 players for its first team, with others assigned to a developmental squad.

D.C. United will continue to train in Scottsdale, Ariz., playing exhibition games against Sporting KC and Real Salt Lake, before returning to Washington for five days in late February. Then it's the Carolina Challenge Cup in Charleston, S.C., from Feb. 25 through March 4.

The regular-season opener is March 10 at Sporting KC. Rozeboom hopes he's a part of it, even if he doesn't actually get onto the field.

“My second year at New Mexico was when I first kind of knew that if I kept improving, I had a chance,” he said. “It's really kind of surreal now that I actually have that opportunity. It's a pretty special thing for me.”