At a time when MLS teams are cultivating more talent from within their own youth academies, D.C. United turned to a number of players produced by local colleges to fill out its roster for training camp. With varying degrees of experience, they could have as good a chance as United’s three supplemental draft picks of making the final roster. After missing out on Maryland forward Casey Townsend, who was picked fifth overall in last week’s MLS draft by Chivas USA, and Maryland defender Alex Lee, who was picked by FC Dallas in Tuesday’s supplemental draft, United opened training camp Wednesday with two Terrapins, forward Matt Oduaran and goalkeeper Will Swaim.
Midfielder Levi Houapeu is a Montgomery County product and played at UMBC before spending his rookie season in 2011 with the Philadelphia Union.
Goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra was raised in Woodbridge, Va., and played in college at VCU. He began the 2010 season as the Chicago Fire’s starter but has struggled to latch on with a team since.
Midfielder Yoni Berhanu, a Potomac native, is coming off a senior season at George Washington in which he scored 11 goals and was named Atlantic 10 midfielder of the year.
Georgetown product Seth C’deBaca started with United’s under-23 team before earning a chance to train with the first team for most of 2011.
With cuts planned before United leaves for the next stage of training camp in Florida next week, it remains to be seen how many locals will get to pack a bag bearing a D.C. United logo.
– Craig Stouffer
