Every week, staff writer Phillip Suitts will take a look at the careers of a number of former Terrapins athletes embarking on professional careers in a variety of leagues. Every Wednesday, it’s former soccer players.
MEN’S SOCCER
Omar Gonzalez, Defender, Los Angeles Galaxy
2013 stats: 19 GP, 19 GS, 1710 minutes, 1 goal, 2 assists, 17 shots, 2 yellow cards, 0 red cards
Skinny: Gonzalez caused a stir on and off the field this past week. First, the Los Angeles Galaxy announced Thursday the former Terp was the first American defender in MLS history to sign a designated player contract. Designated player contracts, typically given out to foreigners and attackers, don’t count against a team’s salary cap. Gonzalez, the Galaxy’s third designated player, will be getting a hefty raise from his current deal, which gives him a guaranteed $282,000 this season. The 2011 MLS Defender of the Year followed up that news by scoring his first goal of the season in a 4-2 win over Real Salt Lake on Saturday. Gonzalez came under some fire in the twittersphere for taunting Salt Lake defender Nat Borchers after scoring the goal, but while his celebration choice can be questioned, his value to the Galaxy is undeniable. Since 2011, prior to this weekend, the Galaxy has a winning percentage of .650 in 61 games with Gonzalez. In the 30 contests Gonzalez has missed, the Galaxy have a .450 winning percentage. Tuesday, in the CONCACAF Champions League, a yearly competition designed to determine the best club team in North and Central America, Gonzalez nearly scored again, only to have his shot cleared off the goal line by an opposing defender. The Galaxy won that home match against Costa Rican side CS Cartaginés 2-0.
Zac MacMath, Goalkeeper, Philadelphia Union
2013 stats: 25 GP, 25 GS, 2250 minutes, 9 shutouts, 76 saves, 32 goals against
Skinny: MacMath got his second straight shutout, and fourth in the last five contests, Saturday in a 0-0 tie at the New York Red Bulls. The 22-year-old, who has played in every MLS match this season, is now tied for the most shutouts in the league with nine. MacMath made three saves during the match. He also saved goals in other ways as well, like in the 29th minute when he caught a pass headed straight towards the Red Bulls’ leading scorer, Thierry Henry.
Rodney Wallace, Midfielder, Portland Timbers
2013 stats: 17 GP, 12 GS, 1153 minutes, 4 goals, 5 assists, 29 shots, 2 yellow cards, 0 red cards
Skinny: Wallace, who played two seasons for the Terps from 2007-08, started and played all 90 minutes Saturday in a 2-1 victory over FC Dallas. Wallace, a member of the Terps 2008 national championship squad, had three shots, one of which was on goal. While he didn’t score Saturday, Wallace’s four goals and five assists are both career highs and helped him earn the distinction as an MLS All-Star, though it as an inactive player. Wallace, who was born in San Jose, Costa Rica, has also spent much of the summer away from Portland with the Costa Rican national team, first for World Cup qualifiers and then in the Gold Cup, a biyearly regional competition among national teams.
London Woodberry, Defender, FC Dallas
2013 stats: 8 GP, 3 GS, 363 minutes, 0 goals, 0 assists, 1 shot, 1 yellow card, 0 red cards
Skinny: Woodberry did not play this past weekend, making it seven straight no-shows in MLS matches. Since starting three straight contests in mid-May Woodberry has played just five minutes in MLS games.
Taylor Kemp, Defender, D.C. United
2013 stats: 7 GP, 5 GS, 440 minutes, 0 goals, 0 assists, 1 shot, 0 yellow cards, 0 red cards
Skinny: Kemp was unable to play in Saturday’s 2-1 loss to the Montreal Impact due to an injury. He had started four of the past five MLS matches prior to Saturday.
Casey Townsend, Forward, D.C. United
2013 stats: 8 GP, 3 GS, 305 minutes, 0 goals, 0 assists, 4 shots, 1 yellow card, 0 red cards
Skinny: Townsend still hasn’t recovered from a foot injury and missed Saturday’s loss. The second-year pro has missed United’s last five matches.
Ethan White, Defender, D.C. United
2013 stats: 11 GP, 10 GS, 837 minutes, 0 goals, 0 assists, 3 shots, 2 yellow cards, 0 red cards
Skinny: White did not play in Saturday’s loss either. Unlike the two other former Terps on United’s squad he did not have a ready-made injury excuse. Since starting five straight MLS matches, White has started, and played, just one game in the last four.
Graham Zusi, Midfielder, Sporting Kansas City
2013 stats: 20 GP, 20 GS, 1772 minutes, 4 goals, 6 assists, 39 shots, 1 yellow card, 0 red cards
Skinny: Zusi missed Sunday’s 1-0 loss to the San Jose Earthquakes. Zusi appears to still be out due to a strained right quad, an injury he suffered during the MLS All-Star game on July 31.
WOMEN’S SOCCER
Jasmyne Spencer, Forward, Washington Spirit
2013 stats: 17 GP, 6 GS, 647 minutes, 0 goals, 1 assist, 6 shots, 0 yellow cards, 0 red cards
Skinny: Spencer played the last 24 minutes of Washington’s 1-1 tie with Sky Blue FC Sunday. Washington finished the season in last place in the eight-team National Women’s Soccer Leaguewith a record of 3-5-14. Spencer, a forward, ended the season without a goal and with only one assist.
