They call it the universal game, and even at high school level in as a remote part of the United States as central Maine, on the coldest days, soccer's many cultures shine through.

It could be Bermudians Khano Smith or Chris Ingram of Maine Central Institute or Tsutomu Suda of Japan, Mexico's Jeronimo Rivera, German youngster Pascal Bohleber, Italian Lorenzo Vizzardi or Bostjan Kolaric of Slovenia bringing their own special skills to the playing fields of Maine.

Smith, in particular, can lay claim to being one of the stars at MCI where he was the team's second highest scorer with 23 goals as a midfielder this season. Last year he netted 24 as a striker.

Earlier this month Smith, a senior at the high school, scored the game's only goal as MCI beat top-seeded and previously unbeaten Camden-Rockport to reach the Class B state final for the second straight year. But they lost again, this time 2-0 to York, for the state title.

Smith, however, was delighted to reach two straight finals with his school.

"I can't explain how good it feels,'' said the 17-year-old. "I've had two dream seasons.'' Smith scored the winning goal over Camden with four minutes left in the first half, after beating two defenders and firing home from 18 yards.

"He showed today why he's the best player in the state,'' his coach Bill Brooks was quoted as saying in a newspaper article the following day.

Smith has been pursued by both the University of Virginia and St. John's University.

"I just have a passion for it,'' Smith says of his love of the game. "I've played since I was four. My father (Wayne Baxter) played.'' Smith has sports in his blood as his mother is top netballer Debra Smith.

"In Bermuda, there's more style and more skills than here. It's because we play more often,'' he says.

"It's a national sport. It's just as popular in Bermuda as it is in England.'' Smith, who plays locally for Dandy Town and is a member of Bermuda's under-20 team which met Barbados and Jamaica earlier this year, is looking forward to playing with a top college on the east coast next fall.

He admits his mother sent him to school abroad to keep him from getting into mischief with his peers. And MCI are glad she did.

"Bermuda kids have been coming to MCI for 15-20 years,'' the coach explained.

"Khano's one of the best they've had.'' Smith has found himself playing alongside a top youngster from Japan, Suda, who was one of the leading scorers in last year's team before switching back to defence this season.