Someday in the distant future, he might forget to stop at the store on the way home. An anniversary date could slip his mind. The face of a Jefferson High School classmate looks familiar, but the name will be stuck on the tip of his tongue.

Forgive Lamar Neagle if any of that happens to him. After all, everyone forgets a little thing here and there.

But then in the next breath, ask him if he remembers his big-time professional soccer debut.

Chances are, it’ll seem like only yesterday. And, at least for now, it was about that long ago – July 18, to be precise, when Neagle – local guy, 2005 graduate of TJ –stepped onto the turf to earn his day’s pay. Not in some venue far away from home. Not on the roster of some lower-division team. Not with a smattering of fans in the stands.

And definitely not against an opponent that would be far more likely to elicit a “Who?” rather than a “Wow!”

“It was pretty much overwhelming – playing Chelsea, my debut, hometown, 65,000 fans,” Neagle said of taking his first official kicks for the Seattle Sounders FC.

“Everything kind of just added up.”

On that afternoon, emotionally charged as only a major soccer match can be (Chelsea won, 2-0), it added up to 19 minutes of action for Neagle, who subbed into the match for starting defender Jhon Kennedy Hurtado in the 71st minute.

The challenge now for Neagle is to go beyond 19 minutes. Go beyond merely making the 18-man game-day roster, but then not getting into the game.

These things take time. And Neagle, having finished his studies at Nevada-Las Vegas in May and signing with the Sounders as a senior developmental player on June 10, is willing to be patient.

“It definitely has been a great thing for me, especially trying to adjust to a different level,” said the 22-year-old Neagle, who also played the entire second half against FC Barcelona, widely regarded as the best team in the world, on Aug. 5. (Barca won, 4-0.) “It has been challenging, but I think I’ve done all right. So hopefully, I keep improving and get some time.”

Darren Sawatzky, who coached Neagle at Jefferson and now is the director of youth development for the Sounders, has no doubt that more minutes will be forthcoming for Neagle.

“Lamar can adapt, and that will give him longevity,” Sawatzky said. “You put him with any level of player, and he’s going to find a way to fit in.”

FROM NOWHERE TO UNLV

As a three-year starter for TJ, Neagle broke a 31-year-old school record by scoring six goals in one game, and he helped the Raiders win the Class 4A state championship as a senior in 2005.

But in an odd twist, he didn’t have anywhere to go to college.

“A couple schools I guess had me on their list, but thought I was already signed somewhere,” Neagle said. “I don’t know who told them that or what happened. It was kind of a miscommunication.”

A buddy of Neagle’s who was on his way to UNLV mentioned Neagle to then-Rebels coach Barry Barto – who also thought that Neagle was going elsewhere.

Neagle was welcomed aboard as a walk-on, started all 19 games, racked up five goals and one assist, and worked his way into a scholarship.

By the time he finished his college career last fall, Neagle had 27 goals for the Rebels, including a team-high nine in 2008.

But as much as he developed his on-field game in college, Neagle was even more pleased with how he matured mentally.

“Emotionally, I grew up a lot – during those years, anyone is going to grow up a lot,” Neagle said. “Freshman year, I remember how hot-headed I was. I got kicked out of a few practices.

“By my senior year, I was really mellow.”

ONCE A SCORER, NOW A STOPPER

For all of his impressive goal totals, Neagle is playing a far different role for Sounders coach Sigi Schmid: A defensive one at left back.

Suffice to say Neagle hasn’t played in that part of the field for a long time.

“When I was really little, I played sweeper,” he said, breaking into a grin. “You definitely have to be more physical back there. It has been difficult trying to learn a brand-new position at this level. Anything at this level is going to be hard, but learning a new position just adds on to it.”

“I think it’s just more in my head, trying to get the confidence, knowing I can play with these guys.”

But just because he’s playing in the back now doesn’t mean that Neagle is there permanently.

“Lamar’s got excellent speed and he’s a player who can play in a number of different positions,” Schmid said in a statement announcing Neagle’s signing in June. “He’s very comfortable on the flank and has played the left side as well as the right. He will get a look from us as an outside player, either in midfield or at the back.”

Neagle’s previous connections with Sawatzky and with Sounders top assistant coach Brian Schmetzer (who occasionally let Neagle work out with the United Soccer Leagues version of the Sounder when Schmetzer was the head coach there) helped crack open the door to a Major League Soccer opportunity.

He’s not about to let it slam shut.

Especially not in his own back yard.

“It all happened so quick, with Seattle getting an MLS team, Brian becoming assistant coach, me being from here – it all kind of fell into place,” Neagle said. “I’ve had some time to sit down with family, everyone congratulating me.

“It’s kind of nice to have the hometown thing going.”

Mark Moschettti contributes stories to the Auburn Reporter.