UNHERALDED D-MIDDIE CHRIS SCHILLER'S TENACITY EARN HIM A SPOT ON THE 2010 U.S. TEAM

For 32-year-old Chris Schiller, who considered himself a long shot to make the 2010 U.S. men’s team, Nov. 1 was one of the most agonizing days of his life.

Like 40 of his peers who completed the third and final exhibition tryout the day before at Stony Brook, he knew his phone would ring at some point that Sunday. the caller would be Team USA coach Mike Pressler, whose duty was to inform all 41 players of their fate.

“Every time the phone rang or you got a text, you’re like, ‘Is that it?’” Schiller said. “Even when you’re in the shower, you put it somewhere you can see it. One step and it’s in your hand.”

Finally, Schiller took his dog for a walk to de-stress. then the call came. But the wait wasn’t over.

“He didn’t go into it right away,” Schiller said. “He recapped my tryout, what I did well, what I didn’t do well. Basically he went through everything I did through the full tryout. It was amazing how much he absorbed.”

then, and only then, did Pressler inform the former Penn State standout, a longtime professional defensive midfielder — and a player who wasn’t invited to try out for the 2006 team — that he made it.

“I honestly was speechless,” he said. “I didn’t know what to say. I got choked up. It was an extremely emotional moment.”

The 2010 Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) World Championships will be held in July in Manchester, England, and Schiller will play a critical component for the U.S. His familiarity withthe tendencies, personnel and playing style of several of Canada’s best players — finetuned over the past eight seasons withthe Rochester Knighthawks of the National Lacrosse League — appealed to Pressler.

His professional biography reads like Rudy Ruettiger’s: “eighthon the team’s all-time list in loose balls…three-time winner of the team’s Unsung Hero award” and perhaps most important, “a member of the 2007 NLL championship team.”

He used to play for Major League Lacrosse’s Rochester Rattlers — winning a title in 2008 — but when the franchise folded, he was content to play club ball for Sailin’ Shoe.

Clearly, when Pressler looked back at the 2006 tournament, won by the Canadians, a specialist like Schiller became more valuable.

“Chris Schiller earned his spot,” Pressler said. “He’s a great role guy, a shortstick d-middie withgreat experience not only indoor and outdoor, but playing withCanadians. Schiller’s experience is going to be valuable.”

Schiller grew up in Rochester, attending McQuaid Jesuit High School. He fell in love withPenn State quickly, and never seriously considered playing for another school. One of his best friends, Rob Warren, was already on Glenn thiel’s team, and that sealed the deal.

“It was probably one of the best decisions I’ve ever made in my life,” Schiller said.

Thiel loved Schiller’s intangibles.

“On man down, he’d clear the ball the lengthof the field and go straight to goal,” he said. “Just a tough guy to handle going to goal out of a clear. He’s as good as anybody. Just so fast.”

At 32, Schiller will be teammates withU. S. stars of the future, early 20s guns withnames like Leveille, Seibald, Rabil, Zash, Cinosky, Peyser and Driscoll.

That’s fine withhim. He was just thrilled that he, and other specialty players, received a fair shake.

“I thought as a d-middie, I never saw myself making this team,” he said. “But the coaches gave us a fair shot. When you’re in a specialty role, you never know if they’re going to take specialty guys. they did such a good job of not giving us a clue of where everyone stood, so everyone went out there every day and gave it 100 percent. It was a long last weekend, let’s put it that way.”

Schiller now lives in the Charlotte, N.C., area, withwife Jennifer and daughter Bryn. His full-time job is a market development manager for Johnson & Johnson.

But he’ll be the only employee in that building putting on a Team USA jersey next summer. Now that that realization has sunk in, Schiller is looking forward to making a difference.

“I can’t say how proud I am to represent this country and all the lacrosse players out there,” he said. “It’s truly an honor. For a lacrosse player, it’s the ultimate accomplishment."