They grew up minutes away from each other, on a part of O'ahu known more for surfing than soccer.

But Hale'iwa's Brian Ching and Kahuku's Natasha Kai — members of the U.S. National teams — are spending June hoping to continue to make a positive impression.

Kai is playing for a chance to make the roster for the Women's World Cup in Beijing in September. If she is chosen, she will be the first female from Hawai'i to make a World Cup roster. Last year, Ching became the first player from Hawai'i to achieve that feat.

Ching, 29, is out of the running for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, which only fields an under-23 roster, but his selection to the 23-man roster for the CONCACAF Gold Cup was "an honor."

"It's the first tournament (men's coach) Bob (Bradley) gets to look at players for a long time, so you just want to make a good impression," said Ching, a Kamehameha Schools graduate.

"It was really important ... things haven't been going too well in the (Major League Soccer) season, and I haven't been scoring as many goals."

Ching scored in a 2-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago Saturday.

"I was pleased to see Brian get on the scoreboard for us," Bradley said on ussoccer.com. "I thought in the game against Ecuador he worked very hard and created openings for other players. He has been an important player for us and it is nice to see him score the game-winner."

The USA plays El Salvador today in the final game of the first round.

"Anytime the National Team plays, I want to be a part of the roster," Ching said. "Hopefully, I can play well to be considered in future games and tournaments."

Kai, a Kahuku High and University of Hawai'i alum, remains in residency camp as women's coach Greg Ryan pared down the roster to 24, heading toward final preparations for the Women's National Send-Off series. According to ussoccer.com, September's World Cup roster will likely be selected from among those 24 players.

The women, who began training June 6 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., play China Saturday at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland.

RAPID DEVELOPMENT

Richie Higa (Mid-Pacific) and Stephen Carlson (Punahou) joined Major League Soccer's Colorado Rapids U23 Team last month. The U23 Team plays in the Premier Development League, which was designed primarily for college athletes to compete without losing eligibility.

"I'm just trying to get some training in," said Higa, who earned a starting spot with the U23 Team last summer. "I think it's just a place where college players can keep their fitness up. It helps to be associated with a professional team."

The team plays against the Colorado Rapids, and travels to Missouri, South Dakota, and Iowa.

Carlson, a defender for Loyola Marymount, severely sprained his left ankle in the fall of 2006 and was granted a medical redshirt year.

"It definitely helps me progress," Carlson said of the U23 Team. "It puts us in a professional environment. All we have to do is play soccer and we get a feel for what it's like. When we play the Rapids, it's a really high level of soccer, and it's really helping me."

REPRESENTING HAWAI'I

Roosevelt graduate Holden Lau and Mililani alum Mele French will represent Hawai'i at the United States Adult Soccer Association Region IV Select Camp, which will be held at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif., this weekend.

"It's a chance to get off the island and experience bigger and better competition," Lau said.

Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com.