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Saturday, March 01, 2008
By Greg Jayne

Columbian Sports editor

It’s another chapter in the life of Tina Ellertson, another plot twist in the uplifting story of one of the nation’s best soccer players.

Ellertson, a Vancouver native who is a member of the U.S. Women’s Team, is back home these days awaiting the birth of her second child, who is due May 13.

No more world travel. No more grueling training camps. No more competing for the most visible women’s team in American sports. At least for a while, anyway.

Ellertson, you might remember, has taken an unusual path to the world of international soccer. Her college career was delayed for year when she became pregnant in high school, yet she wound up as a record-setting scorer at the University of Washington while also playing mom to MacKenzie, who turns 7 this week.

A little more than a year ago, she married MacKenzie’s father, Brad Ellertson.

Given all that the couple has endured on the road to the top of the soccer world, there should be little question about whether Ellertson can return to the National Team. Self-doubt has never played a role in her career.

“I’m going to do everything I can to come back for the Olympics,” Ellertson said, looking ahead to the August start of the Beijing Games. “The timing was kind of a bummer as far as the Olympics.”

But for now, Ellertson is home. She’s volunteering at the school where MacKenzie is a first-grader, and she’s trying to keep in shape. At least as much as baby Mya will allow.

“I started having contractions,” Ellertson said. “Mya sure let me know last week, ‘OK Mom, time to slow down a bit.’ ”

In the process, Ellertson is missing out on a time of transition for the National Team.

There is a new coach in Pia Sundhage. There is the Algarve Cup, a major competition in Portugal. There is the fallout from last year’s World Cup, which was marked by controversy when then-coach Greg Ryan changed goalkeepers for what turned out to be a semifinal loss to Brazil.

“From what I hear from the girls, she has been a great addition,” Ellertson said of Sundhage. “There were some negative things that came from the World Cup, but our team has learned from that. Everybody has moved on.”

Which can make it difficult for Ellertson to be on maternity leave. On the other hand, some things are more important, such as preparing for Mya’s arrival and spending time with Brad without worrying about having a plane to catch.

“This year has been awesome because we’ve gotten to see each other all the time,” Ellertson said, adding that Brad will graduate in May from Washington State University-Vancouver.

“Our journey’s been a long one,” Ellertson said. “He helped me get through school, and now I’m helping him. We’ve done it together, and MacKenzie’s been there along the way.”

There’s no telling where the journey will lead next. A new baby? The Olympics? A U.S. professional league that is slated to begin play next year?

The whirlwind will continue, which is why Ellertson is enjoying some temporary down time.

“It’s a pretty simple life now, and I’m loving it,” she said. “I pinch myself all the time; I think my life couldn’t be any better.”