In the year-and-a-half since being picked fifth overall by FC Dallas in the 2009 MLS Super Draft, playing time has been hard to come by for Peri Marosevic.
The former University of Michigan forward was getting time in scrimmages this spring, but FCD head coach Schellas Hyndman was experimenting with playing him on either side of the midfield.
So, when the Austin Aztex of the USSF-D2 called Hyndman in search of a forward, the FCD coach recommended Marosevic.
“What we wanted to make sure of was that he was getting playing time,” Hyndman said. “His strength is really his shooting and finishing. He’s had a difficult time getting in with one striker. I think it’s fantastic that he’s scoring, building his self confidence and getting his playing time.”
Last week, Marosevic had a hat trick in a US Open Cup game against the Arizona Sahuaros. He is clearly glad to be somewhere where he can get some much-needed minutes.
“It feels good," Marosevic said by phone from Austin. “As soon as I came down here, the guys welcomed me with open arms. When a player feels comfortable and welcome, it helps your confidence.
"I’m glad that coach [Adrian] Heath gave me an opportunity to play a full 90 minutes. There was great buildup on all three goals. The balls I received were spot on and pretty much all I had to do was put them in the back of the net.”
When he arrived in Austin, there were a couple of familiar faces waiting on him. Goalkeeper Sean Kelley was an FCD trialist during preseason, and Jamie Watson played for Hyndman in 2008.
“Having Sean Kelley and Jamie Watson, it definitely helps me out with the transition and makes me feel more comfortable here, knowing that coming in, I already have friends," Marosevic said. "That’s a good thing.”
Before he left FCD, the ex-Wolverine was playing a good deal as a wide midfielder. However, with the Aztex he has returned to a more familiar spot on the pitch.
“I’ve been playing forward here," Marosevic said. “Schellas has been trying to put me out wide for a while just to see what I would do. With the one-striker system and a striker with a lot of experience in Jeff Cunningham, it’s tough to get that spot. With Austin, I’ve been playing up top in a two-striker system working with the other forward and it’s working out really well.”
His loan is set to end on July 5. While things have gone well so far, the FCD forward admits he doesn’t really know if he’ll remain in Austin for the rest of the 2010 campaign.
“All I can do is take advantage of this time. I’ll talk to Schellas about it, see what he thinks, and make up my mind as well,” Marosevic said.
