Notebook: Contacts mean eyes have it for keeper

U.S. goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann, formerly of Newport High School and Seattle Pacific University, isn't really an alien. But when the sun hits the pitch, he sort of looks like one.

Hahnemann on sunny days has been sporting experimental new sun-shade contact lenses, a device designed and being tested by Nike. Hahnemann, who normally doesn't wear contacts, said it took some time to get used to them, but once he did, they're great for those moments when chasing a ball means glancing into the sun. By making his pupils appear bright orange, however, they definitely give new meaning to the term "evil eye."

Though Hahnemann is barely recognized for his soccer exploits even in his own hometown, he is a fan favorite for his English club, Reading FC. The reason? Hahnemann gives every short-sleeved goalkeeper's shirt he wears in games to a fan when the game is over. When the team's uniform supplier stopped making the short-sleeved shirts, Hahnemann cut the sleeves on those he was given.

The director of his team told Hahnemann to stop cutting his sleeves and giving away his jerseys. So Hahnemann decided to pay for the shirts out of his own pocket, and struck a deal with the manufacturer to buy them at cost. He gives the shirt to a fan holding an American flag.

Remembering Wilson

The dream ended abruptly for Whayne Wilson.

Wilson, a 29-year-old forward on the Costa Rican national soccer team, died May 18 from injuries he suffered in a car accident in Costa Rica, four days earlier. He left behind four children.

Wilson had turned down several offers from professional clubs in Asia, opting to stay home and try to fulfill a lifelong goal: earning a roster spot on the 2006 World Cup team.

Just last year, Wilson made the national squad. He appeared in several matches during the Olympics and scored four international goals earlier this year.

"When he died, everybody lost a little piece of them, an important part," team spokesman Marvin Hidalgo said through a translator. "He smiled always and he had a very strong heart, a strong spirit."

MLS is making its mark

Two Costa Ricans and three Canadians in Gold Cup Group B also play on Major League Soccer teams in the U.S., and others have been in this nation's top professional soccer league in years past. So even though it was the first time in Seattle for some, being stateside is nothing new.

Incidentally, 15 of the 23 U.S. national team players came from MLS teams.

"It's a good level of soccer," said Costa Rica midfielder Douglas Sequeira, who plays for one of the two new MLS clubs, Chivas USA. "The fans always are with us wherever we go. We haven't had good results, but we're getting better."

Chivas USA is the American extension of the popular Mexican club team. The club is struggling in its inaugural MLS season with a 1-13-3 record, but have instant popularity among Latino fans in its home base, Los Angeles.

Costa Rican defender Michael Umana plays for the Los Angeles Galaxy. For Canada, forward Dwayne de Rosario plays for the San Jose Earthquakes, midfielder Felix Brillant plays for the New England Revolution and forward Will Johnson plays for the Chicago Fire.

Notes

• Canada fielded a starting lineup of six players 25 or younger, and three of their opening 11 had two or fewer international game appearances.

• The Voyageurs, Canada's national team support club, were the most vocal of the Canadian fans at the Costa Rica-Canada game. There were also several small groups of Costa Rican fans throughout Qwest Field, where the crowd continued to grow leading up to the U.S.-Cuba game.

Seattle Times staff reporters Michael Ko and Ron Judd contributed to this notebook.