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For some collegiate soccer players, their dreams will be realized today when their name gets called at the MLS Superdraft. For others, that vision has to be achieved by an alternate method. One year ago, San Francisco alumni David Romney set out on a path to turn his aspirations of becoming a professional into a reality.

After a combine with the San Jose Earthquakes didn't bear fruit, the defender from Irvine, Calif., was prepared to put his 3.7 gpa and finance degree to work.

"I went to a combine for the San Jose Earthquakes and it didn't really work out," recalled Romney. "Then I came back up here just looking for internships, just looking for stuff to kind of just stay active during the spring. Then I walked into Eddie [Soto]'s office and he was like, I got you a tryout with Galaxy II in a week, are you ready?"

He was ready.

Soto contacted Curt Onofro, head coach of Galaxy II, and put his faith and confidence in Romney's abilities to play professional soccer.

"I have a lot of trust in Eddie Soto. I think he's an excellent coach," noted Onofro. "He's got a very good eye for talent, and he told me he thought that Dave Romney was a very, very good young player right out of college and that in the right environment he could be very successful."

Romney's opportunity to shine on the field started by being a practice player, and grew into a starting role for Los Dos.

"Once he stepped into the lineup, he really didn't put a foot wrong," said Onofro.

While playing 17 games in the USL for Galaxy II, Romney's presence helped the squad to a tie for first place in the USL Western Conference standings. His performance with Galaxy II then led to earning time – and a contract – with the first team.

On loan from Los Dos in July, Romney played with the first team against Club America, and followed that up a week later by playing the second half of the Galaxy's match against FC Barcelona in front of a sold out Rose Bowl Stadium in International Champions Cup play.

By August 5, Romney was a full-fledged member of the first team, inking a contract with the Galaxy. He is the first Los Dos player to move up to the first team in club history.

"I went out of my way to push Dave to the Galaxy, because I knew – I knew he just needed a chance," explained Soto. "The door opened, and he ran with it."

After all the 2016 MLS SuperDraft names are called in Baltimore, many will still be awaiting their chance. Last year, it was Romney – undrafted, and unpursued after a combine in San Jose. The belief of a coach and the drive of a player propelled him forward to the USL, and now, the MLS ranks. All it took was a crack in the door for Dave Romney to burst through – and run.