His game-winner in early June against Kansas City knocked off the last unbeaten MLS team. Wolff's decision to turn pro after three seasons at the University of South Carolina symbolizes the U.S. Soccer Federation's attempt to accelerate the development of its men's program. Only one current Olympic team member is an amateur, with most of the rest based in MLS with Wolff. Veteran college and USSF staff coach Clive Charles will take a more experienced group to Australia than the band of collegians, indoor players and handful of European pros who represented the U.S. in the 1990 World Cup. Olympic men's soccer is limited to players 23 and under, except for three older players allowed per team.
Most countries use the Olympics as a springboard for the World Cup and high-level club competition.
Nigeria won the gold in Atlanta, and several of its players are now starring for some of the top clubs in Europe. So are those from Brazil, Argentina, Spain and Italy. The Americans just want to advance out of group play for the first time and get a taste of the kind of international game they will encounter at the senior level. Wolff, who turned 23 in February, spent his first year playing with an MLS developmental team. Then he went to Chicago, which won the MLS title in 1998, its first season.