Matt Freese is a Harvard-grad who comes from a family of renowned scientists. He might lead the U.S. to FIFA World Cup glory.

Matt Freese once wrote a college research project on penalty kicks. Now he’s competing to be the starting goalie for the U.S. men’s national team at this summer’s World Cup.

When Matt Freese was about 10 years old, he set out to solve a problem that existed entirely in his own head. He wanted to be a soccer goalie, but there was another boy his age in the area who was considered better. “He could dive and just fully get airborne,” Freese said.

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Freese was already training in the backyard with his brother, facing upward of 400 shots a night, until they both went inside muddy. But his dives weren’t good enough. He went to his bedroom, where he had a twin bed on a wooden frame, and started launching himself onto the mattress, his arms outstretched, pretending to catch an invisible ball. He had to lift his feet and get as high as possible, or he’d smash his shins on the frame.

“Maybe that’s why my bed broke,” Freese said.