Linda Phillips wasn't intimidated by her fellow players during the Portland Thorns' open tryouts, even though most of her competitors were as much as 30 years younger.

The Thorns held tryouts Saturday and Sunday at Jeld-Wen Field, and Phillips (wearing No. 40) decided to join the 85 players who are hoping to become a member of the professional soccer team in its inaugural season. The big difference between Phillips and the others is she is 50 years old.

"It was one of those of things that I never had the opportunity to do before," Phillips said. "I just wanted to try and see where I come up."

Thorns coach Cindy Parlow-Cone was inspired when she heard about Phillips' attempt to earn a spot on the squad.

"I thought, 'Good for her,' " said Cone, who is 34. "I hope when I'm 50 years old I feel comfortable enough to go try out for a professional soccer team. I don't think it will happen, though."

Cone said players from around the country competed in the tryouts. The Thorns are part of the eight-team National Women's Soccer League that is scheduled to begin regular season play in April.

"There were some quality players that I will be looking to ask to join us for the preseason starting on March 11," Cone said. "We're going to let the players know as soon as possible. We don't want this to drag out, we'll tell them as soon as we know for sure."

Cone declined to specifically discuss the performance of individual players, including Phillips. However, Phillips is trying to break through in a major professional sport, an industry dominated by young people as teenagers and in their 20s and 30s, though there are some exceptions.

For example, Major League Baseball pitcher Jamie Moyer was 49 when he pitched for the Colorado Rockies during the 2012 season. New York Knicks' forward Kurt Thomas is the NBA's oldest player at 40. Detroit kicker Jason Hanson, 42, is one of the oldest players in the National Football League. Swimmer Dana Torres was 41 when she captured a silver medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics. Boxer Evander Holyfield was 49 during his one of his last professional boxing matches against Brian Nielsen in 2011.

Phillips, a part-time high school teacher in Molalla, is trying to become one of the oldest players ever to play professional soccer in a league. She said her effort isn't to achieve a moral victory by simply trying out.

"To be really honest, I don't see me making the full travel squad," Phillips said. "I could easily see myself making the practice squad."

Phillips, who played at defender and center midfielder at the tryouts, said she felt encouraged about her performance.

"Just being able to keep up with them and being able to move off the ball and support my teammates. I was able to fit in at that level of play and not be a hindrance to my team," Phillips said. "Not that I was expecting not to do well, but I was more impressed than I thought I would be."

Phillips possesses the pedigree.

She started playing soccer in junior high school and starred at Lake Oswego High School. Phillips (formerly Linda Brock), a forward at the University of Portland, scored 41 goals and was the school's all-time leading goal scorer when she finished her career in 1984. She currently ranks eighth on the Pilots' all-time list for goals scored and she is tied for 10th in points (41 goals, 18 assists).

Phillips also starred in track for the Pilots. Her 400-meter time of 58.7 seconds in the 400 meters ranks seventh on the Pilots' all-time list and an 800-meter time of 2:15.09 ranks ninth. Both times came in 1984.

Professional soccer was not a viable option for Phillips after she graduated from the University of Portland. Women's professional soccer was still in its infancy in the United States -- the women's national team played its first international game in 1985 and won its first World Cup in 1991, but the popularity of women's soccer didn't grow until the national team won the 1999 World Cup in Los Angeles.

"My seventh grade coach had never played soccer. He read a book," Phillips said. "A great guy, but in terms of strategy and basic skills, he was just learning the game."

Phillips had moved on with her life, but she didn't move too far away from the two sports she grew up playing.

Phillips trains with the Clackamas Community College women's track team three times a week. She also plays soccer in a women's league during the week, holding her own against players half her age. If she does make the Thorns team, Phillips said one of her goals is to make sure the current players are aware of who paved the road.

"I'd like to give them some idea of where soccer came from and why they have the opportunities that they have now, because when I was their age, this wasn't around," Phillips said. "They need to be thankful for it and be willing to give back to the sport as they age."

Regardless of whether Phillips makes the team, she will not have any reservations. Trying out for a professional soccer team has provided her with an opportunity that was unavailable nearly 30 years ago. Her body isn't the same as it was in 1984, but the desire is just as strong.

"It's one of those things where you never want to regret not doing something, just because you didn't," Phillips said. "There's a lot of women out there playing soccer who also didn't have the opportunity to try out. I just want to show them that it's never too late to do what you want to do."

-- Geoffrey C. Arnold

Note: An earlier version of this story was incorrect in naming Jamie Moyer's 2012 team. Moyer pitched for the Colorado Rockies last season.