Defender’s second shot in D.C. is going well
It was all too familiar for Daniel Woolard.
After scoring what appeared to be a game-winning overtime goal in D.C. United’s U.S. Open Cup qualifier against Philadelphia in April, Woolard was afraid he had cost United the game when an equalizer deflected in off him minutes later.
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Fortunately, United prevailed in penalty kicks, which was a better result for Woolard than the last time he had been at Maryland SoccerPlex. In 2008, he scored a goal there as a member of the Chicago Fire, only to see D.C. United come from behind and win in overtime.
| Up next |
| Earthquakes at D.C. United |
| When » Saturday, 7:30 p.m. |
| Where » RFK Stadium |
| TV » Comcast SportsNet |
Woolard’s second chance in Washington has unfolded in similar fashion. He has risen from training camp invitee to the eldest member of the youngest backline in Major League Soccer, a group that has helped D.C. United (4-4-4) go unbeaten in its last five league matches (2-0-3).
“Time flies because it’s a short career,” Woolard said. “You get old fast.”
The 27-year-old from Bedford, Texas, aged plenty in 2010. He started the year with the Chicago Fire, who had drafted him out of Midwestern State in 2007. But he was left out of the plans of new coach Carlos de los Cobos — who was fired last week — and Woolard spent most of the preseason with D.C. United until he was sidelined by a hamstring injury. As a result, he was let go before the regular season started.
Woolard returned home to rehab and joined his local Premier Development League team, the Dallas-Fort Worth Tornados, only to suffer a concussion that benched him even longer, recovering only in time for a late-season run with the minor league Carolina Railhawks. By this winter, Woolard found himself doing the same thing he was 12 months ago: trying to earn a spot with D.C. United.
“The injuries and stuff that happened last year just gave me new perspective for myself, as in how much I actually do love the game,” said Woolard, who made six MLS starts in three years with the Fire. “It gave me a better appreciation for the opportunities that I’ve had. It made me work harder and enjoy the game more.”
With first-team left back Marc Burch out with a hamstring injury, Woolard has started the last five games for D.C., including last weekend’s scoreless draw at Los Angeles alongside a trio of rookies: Ethan White (20 years old), Perry Kitchen (19) and Chris Korb (23).
After United ended the Galaxy’s four-game winning streak and Portland’s six-match unbeaten stretch at home, Woolard and the youngsters can help halt another run this weekend against the Earthquakes (4-4-4), who also haven’t lost in their last five contests.
“The nice thing with [Woolard] is you know what you get all the time,” United assistant coach Chad Ashton said. “He’s a shutdown defender. People don’t go by him. He’ll get involved in the attack when he can, but for the most part, he’s a stay-at-home guy who’s going to shut down his side of the field. He’s brought a lot of consistency to the back line, which we sorely needed.”
