Prior to Chicago’s home match against Columbus two weeks ago, Fire defender Jeff Curtin called Keith Tabatznik, his college coach at Georgetown, to get some advice.
The two talked about what would be Curtin’s second professional start, discussing the idea of the 6-foot-3 defender getting forward on corner kicks, as he did in college, and joking about the possibility that he could become the first Hoya to score in Major League Soccer.
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Tabatznik’s phone rang again right after the match.
“Jeff, who is not very emotional one way or the other, was really excited,” said Tabatznik, who hadn’t seen the game. “‘I did it, coach,’ he told me. ‘On a corner kick?’ ‘Yep.’ ‘A header?’ ‘Yeah, I’m the firstHoya to score, but I also became the first Hoya to get thrown out.’”
Though the joy of his first-half goal was muted by his second-half red card, Curtin continues to make strides and could be in the starting lineup this weekend as he returns from a one-game suspension.
“Last year was basically a wash,” said Curtin, who was taken in the second round of the 2006 draft but missed nearly the entire season with a groin injury. “I feel more like a rookie this year, getting some action. I feel good, healthy, and I’m playing well so hopefully it’ll continue.”
Both of Jeff Curtin’s starts have come at the expense of his older brother, six-year veteran Jim Curtin — they are the ninth set of brothers to play in MLS but have yet to play alongside one another for the Fire.
“My brother is playing well, but I guess they just needed to shuffle some things up,” said Jeff Curtin. “He played good last weekend. I don’t even know who’s going to start this weekend.”
