Although he didn’t make the team, Marco Ramirez put himself on the map of the Galaxy, and had a great time doing it.

Trying out for Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles Galaxy from Monday through Wednesday in Los Angeles, Ramirez got to showcase his skills, test out top-flight facilities, and introduce himself to some of the game’s brightest stars.

“The first day, we played the 18-year-old national team, but they had me playing defense, which is not my primary position.

“The second day was more of the same, playing defense. (Wednesday) we played each other, but I got to play midfielder. Afterward, they said they’d keep me in mind,” Ramirez said.

Back in Modesto on Wednesday night, his excitement about his experience was evident. “It was a great experience. The facilities are supposedly the best in the league, if not the nation. The national team was there while we were – I got to see Freddy Adu. We also got to see Galaxy players, like Cobi Jones. It was a lot of fun.”

“Even though I didn’t stay, some day I’ll have another chance. I felt I could play at that level for sure,” Ramirez said.