Leslie Gaston covets a starting spot on the school team.

Brian Buckner envisions an English pitch as his final frontier.

It is with such goals in mind that the aforementioned trio representing the University of North Carolina continue to train and polish their skills, reaching, clawing, grasping each rung as they climb towards the pinnacle.

However, it may be that ultimate heights are not reached. UNC could flop in the first round of the tournament. A freak injury could put Gaston out for the season. Buckner's phone may never ring with the call from across the Atlantic.

Yet neither will be denied through lack of effort.

And it is with this message of hard work, discipline and commitment that the triumvirate of Ball, Gaston and Buckner arrived at the Rocky/Streaker Soccer Camp, which ends tomorrow.

Indeed both Ball and Gaston have tasted the success of a national championship with the Tarheels, while Buckner has been a member of the United States National Under-20 squad. And while the years affixed to their titles appear few, their experience belies the actual numbers.

The women provide solid examples for females seeking to further themselves through soccer, but stress it will take some doing.

"A lot of them want to go and play in the US and all sorts of countries, but we've told them that it's not easy,'' said Ball, a highly recruited midfielder/forward from Highland Park High School in Dallas, Texas.

"I believe a lot of the kids don't understand some of the importance of hard work. I think the demand for excellence isn't as high as it is in the US and maybe us coming down here and showing them, based on what we've done and what they need to do, hopefully it'll influence them.

"I think soccer is really important as a tool, it's taught me a lot. When I came in as a freshman I was scared and everything, and I've learned so much from my team-mates, such as character and what's expected of you, which'll definitely help me when I go out to get a job.

"I just think it's one of the best things to come into my life because I've learned so much from it outside of soccer too.'' Gaston, hoping to seize a spot in the North Carolina defence following a season lost to an anterior cruciate ligament injury, concurred with her team-mate.

"I just enjoyed it. I never knew it would take me as far as it has,'' said the 20-year-old. "In terms of a college education and my being in Bermuda right now is all because of soccer. I never really thought so many positive things would come of it, I just enjoyed it and had fun playing.. .I loved it.

"Then, as I got older, I started realising that a lot of opportunities would open up because of it.

"There are two female players here at the camp, so we can serve as role models to them and show them that there are female players out there that can be really strong.

"Also, it helps coming from the United States, because we have such a strong national programme and I think that a lot of, even the young guys here, haven't seen a lot of top quality women's soccer.'' In stark contrast to the females, Buckner voluntarily gave up his spot on the men's roster in order to concentrate on attaining his degree, and with a double major of philosophy and sociology it is not hard to imagine why.

Buckner knows the value of giving full attention to the prescribed task and playing soccer at this time simply would not afford that to his studies.

"What I would like to achieve with the camp is just teaching these kids how important it is to give 110 percent at all times, whether it be listening to the coaches talking about what kind of things we're going to work on today, or playing in game situations, or just doing drills,'' said Buckner, an attack minded player that can occupy either a midfield or forward spot.

"Also I stress the importance of picking each other up. There's no `I' in `TEAM' and this is not an individual sport. They need to know that everyone works together to achieve all of their goals.''