THE FRONT ROW WITH JASON ELLIOTT: July 23, 2014

After playing sparingly as a freshman for the Gonzaga men's soccer team, Graison Le was just looking for a spot to find the confidence he held as a four-year starter at Coeur d'Alene High.

As luck might have it, it was close to home and on a first-year team that was looking for local players.

LE WAS a center back for the Spokane Shadow, which won the inaugural men's elite Evergreen Premier League championship over the weekend with a 3-0 win against Wenatchee United on Sunday at Spokane Falls Community College.

"Really, for me, it came out of the blue," Le said of joining the Shadow. "We were just getting through the spring season at Gonzaga and I started talking to (Gonzaga head coach) Einar (Thorarinsson) and some of the other coaches about where I was going to play summer ball. Because there wasn't a lot of high level teams in this area I was going to be able to play with, I thought I was going to have to go to Seattle or Portland. This came up, and I thought, heck yeah, it gives me a chance to stay home and spend some time with my family when I can, and get to play at a high level, so Einar talked to the (Shadow) coaches."

Le played for the Spokane Elite club team from the under-12 to U16 level.

"I was all in at that point because I'd heard that some guys from Gonzaga were going to play there (with the Shadow), then some with Seattle U and Whitworth," Le said. "I knew there'd be some quality players and I'd et some quality hours and keep going toward the fall."

Le missed the Shadow's first four matches due to a stress fracture in his left tibia. He made his debut at Wenatchee on May 24.

"I'd gotten a lot of minutes in the spring games at Gonzaga, and got injured the weekend we were playing at Washington and Seattle U," Le said.

"There's not much you can do about it," Le added. "The trainer told me I had to sit out a few weeks and that it was just an over-use on my legs and take my time and let it heal and use my time wisely and take advantage of it."

Le scored the game-winner in the 82nd minute of the Shadow's 1-0 win against South Sound, which finished second in the league.

"It was a little rough getting back out there," Le said. "I definitely had to get my legs under me again. As it went on, I got into shape and got more touches on the ball and got back to where I was in the spring at Gonzaga."

Le, a three-time all-5A Inland Empire League selection while at Coeur d'Alene, played in 11 matches with five shots on goal last fall as a true freshman for Gonzaga, which finished 10-6-3.

"It was completely different for me," Le said. "The way that Gonzaga was for me all year, it was different with the Shadow. I got more time on the field. Getting back into the game and starting a full game was huge for me. In the fall, they'd throw me in during the middle of the game when other guys needed a break and it was a little rough. People might not think it, but to jump into the game and get right into the flow is really difficult to do. With the Shadow, to play and feel the flow of the game, it helped so much. Once I got my rhythm down and some shots on goal - I hadn't scored a goal since last summer - it was an awesome feeling. Once you get on that roll, you're going, going, going and scoring goals and getting into that flow."

LE, WHO is 5-foot-9, also played football growing up.

His older brother Gabe starred as a running back at Coeur d'Alene, then played at Carroll College. His younger brother, Griphen, played on the Coeur d'Alene JV last fall.

"We all grew up playing football and soccer," Le said. "Any of us could do both sports and just loved them. We all got to a certain age, whether that was seventh or sixth grade, and thought how much longer could I do both sports. Gabe came around, he chose football, loved it and did really well with it. Me though, I knew right away that I loved soccer. I love the game of football, and probably knew more about professional football than professional soccer. My little brother chose football, and hopefully he'll be pretty good. I kind of knew that they got the size and I didn't. We all respect each other so much, and definitely after this year with Gonzaga and the Shadow, I couldn't be happier."

Le finished the season with three goals and an assist for the Shadow.

WITH THE Shadow, Le also had a chance to share the field with Timmy Mueller, who played at Post Falls High and signed with Oregon State last fall.

"It was awesome," said Le of playing with Mueller, who also played on the Spokane Elite. "It's like nothing changed. We'd played on different club teams, but were back on the Idaho Thunder team and that was great getting back with him and creating those combinations. When Timmy comes into the game, things just click because he's that big, strong, fast attacker that a guy like me can play off of. I'm hoping to get a chance to play with him, or even against him again someday."

Gonzaga and Oregon State are not scheduled to play each other this year during the regular season.

They were almost teammates at Oregon State, where Le verbally committed as a junior at Coeur d'Alene.

"On my official visit, I'd been committed to Oregon State and on my visit, Gonzaga came down to play," Le said. "About the last month or so before I signed, I changed my mind for some reason and decided to go to Gonzaga as more of a walk-on. Oregon State gave me a spot on the roster, and since my freshman year of high school, that was my goal. I was really into it and wanted to play there. I got that spot, but something in my gut said it wasn't going to work out for me."

As it looks now, things are looking up for Le, not only with Gonzaga, but for the Shadow, where he can return for the next three years.

"They told me the harder I worked, the more time I'd get on the field," Le said. "I wasn't worried about that, but just finding my spot and where I'm going to be happy and most comfortable. And I couldn't be happier with my decision."

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d'Alene Press. He can be reached by telephone at 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at jelliott@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter at JEPressSports.