SOCCER NOTEBOOK: REIS STRONG IN START.

Byline: Matt Zimmerman Staff Writer

SAN DIEGO - On a night when one of the United States' most well-known soccer players made his national team debut, the play of the rookie in the goal proved key.

Former UCLA goalkeeper Matt Reis, who started for the 2005 Major League Soccer runnerup New England Revolution, made a pair of saves to pick up his first shutout in his first appearance for the senior men's national team, a 0-0 tie against Canada. And yes, 16-year-old Freddy Adu played the final 10 minutes to make his debut with the senior national team, but Reis' stop of a Dwayne DeRosario breakaway was pivotal as the U.S began 2006 with a tie.

``I wasn't (nervous) at all,'' said Reis, who did not allow a goal in the 2005 MLS Cup against the Galaxy until overtime. `` I was just calm. I just wanted to show what I can do, and if I was nervous, that wouldn't help me at all. I was excited to play, the last game I played was a little disappointing.''

Reis is used to performing well on the big stage. Eight years ago, he had one of the greatest college performances by a golie in the NCAA Final Four as he led the Bruins to their third national title.

Drafted by the Galaxy the following spring, Reis spent the next few years sharing time with and often backing up Kevin Hartman in the net. Ironically, Hartman was the other U.S. goalie on Sunday's roster, and watched his former teammate and fellow Bruin preserve the U.S.' sixth consecutive shutout against its northern neighbors.

Following a game when Canadian goalie Greg Sutton only had to make two saves himself, U.S. coach Bruce Arena noted that an American team playing its first game of the year would be rusty. In the 62nd minute, DeRosario lost his defender at midfield and sprinted in on Reis alone, but the Canadian captain and San Jose Earthquakes star could not get past Reis, who made agreat save to keep it scoreless.

The World Cup in Germany is still five months away, and Europe-based keepers Kasey Keller, Marcus Hannemann and Tim Howard may still have a leg up for he final roster spot. But if one falters, there may be a spot open, and Reis intends to do whatever he can to claim it.