Woolard’s two assists were first of his career They were the first assists of his MLS career, earning him a few “stat-sheet filler” jokes and plenty of pats on the back in the locker room after D.C. United’s 3-2 victory over Houston. But Daniel Woolard barely took credit for his contributions, helping to facilitate each of United’s final two goals from his left back position.
That’s not the blue-collar defender’s style, even if his improvements embody the leap D.C. United has made since the season’s opening weeks.
A league punch line after dropping its first two matches of the year, United (4-2-3, 15 points) hasn’t lost since, reeling off back-to-back victories for the first time since 2009 and three wins in its last four games. D.C.’s seven-match unbeaten streak is its longest since 2007, when it finished with the best record in MLS.
| Up Next |
| United at Earthquakes |
| When » Wednesday, 10:30 p.m. |
| Where » Buck Shaw Stadium, Santa Clara, Calif. |
| TV » CSN+ |
Currently in second place in the Eastern Conference, United’s lone contest against Western Conference-leading San Jose has turned into an important measuring stick for a pair of determined up-and-comers. The surprising Earthquakes (6-1-1, 19 points) are the first MLS team since D.C. in 2003 to win consecutive games on added-time goals.
“It’s a great opportunity for us to prove that we’re not here by chance,” said Woolard, who will face Earthquakes forward Chris Wondolowski (8 goals) as part of a makeshift unit on Wednesday without injured center backs Emiliano Dudar (hamstring) and Dejan Jakovic (ankle).
Woolard put down his own roots in the D.C. defense last year when Marc Burch was undone by injuries, a place solidified when United declined to keep Burch in the offseason.
Burch landed with the Seattle Sounders and told the Seattle Times he wanted to “prove that I don’t believe that their left back is better than I am,” before the teams played to a scoreless draw on April 7. Woolard shrugged the bulletin-board material aside with no comment.
“It was funny, his reaction was just, ‘Whatever,’ to Burch’s comment,” Jakovic said. “But he didn’t really have to say anything. I thought he came out and played a hell of a game. That’s the way to do it.”
A raised standard in D.C. training and in his comfort level has resulted in Woolard having the confidence to break down attacks and spring free his own forwards.
“I don’t think we had a true identity last year in the way we like to attack,” Woolard said. “I think we kind of have one this year. It makes it a little easier to play out of the back.”
Against the Dynamo, Woolard’s touch to Dwayne De Rosario for D.C.’s second goal was admittedly easy. But his curling cross to Maicon Santos for a game-winning header was a perfectly executed thing of beauty.
“The first one’s not much of anything, you know,” Woolard said. “I just keep trying to do as much as I can going forward and help out in the back as much as possible.”
