"I remember my dad asking me which sport I thought I'd be best at," Haglund, 18, said. "I picked soccer."

He picked the right sport.

Haglund is one of 80 young soccer players across the country named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America's All Americans on Jan. 19 at the NSCAA Convention in Baltimore.

Haglund won a scholarship to play in the fall for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, the 2007 NCAA national soccer champions.

Haglund has been playing soccer for 13 years, both in the Capital Area Soccer League and at North Raleigh Christian Academy, where he is a senior.

This year, he scored his 100th high school goal.

"My senior year has been great. I'll miss high school and club soccer, but I look forward to taking the next step," he said.

When Haglund's not playing, he enjoys helping younger players and offers this advice: "Make sure you love the game. You'll have ups and downs, but the love of the game will keep you going."

Three other local CASL players received the honors: Katie Evans, Broughton High School; Jen Partenheimer, Apex High School; and Watt Williams, Broughton High School.