D.C. United head coach Ben Olsen addresses youth coaches
D.C. United head coach Ben
Olsen is opening up a practice this month to area youth coaches. Participants will observe the first team's training session and than
hear form Coach Olsen, before participating in a coaching clinic lead by
Assistant Coaches Chad Ashton and Preston Burpo. Event Details:
When: Friday, August 23, 2013 – 9:00 a.m.*
Where: RFK Stadium – 2400 E. Capitol St. SE Washington D.C., 20003
Cost: The event is free for all youth coaches. The event is not appropriate for youth soccer players.
Today U.S. Soccer released the full list of eligible players that can be voted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame as part of the 2013 class.
Six of the 22 players nominated have played for D.C. United during their soccer careers. Raul Diaz Arce (1996/97, 2000/01), Marco Etcheverry (1996-2003), Roy Lassiter (1998/99, 2002), Tony Sanneh (1996-98), and current United head coach Ben Olsen (1998-2009).
Other notable players include former William & Mary left back, Wade Barrett (1994-97) and UVA midfielder, Angela Hucles (1996-99).
Washington, D.C.
(November 15, 2012) - Major League Soccer today announced today the
finalists for its 2012 year-end awards. Among the finalists are D.C.
United midfielder Nick DeLeon, up for Rookie of the Year, United Head
Coach Ben Olsen, up for Coach of the Year, and midfielder/forward Chris
Pontius, up for Comeback Player of the Year.
The Black-and-Red’s
first selection in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft (7th overall) Nick DeLeon has
continued the club’s recent string of rookies making an immediate
impact. Playing in 28 games (25 starts) in his first professional
season, DeLeon broke United’s rookie goal-scoring record with six
tallies in 2012, also contributing four assists in the process. Previous
record-holders included Santino Quaranta (2001), Freddy Adu (2004) and
Andy Najar (2010), who all notched five goals in their inaugural MLS
campaigns. DeLeon joins teammates Chris Pontius (2009 finalist), Andy
Najar (2010 Rookie of the Year) and Perry Kitchen (2011 finalist) as the
fourth consecutive Rookie of the Year finalist from D.C. United.
Olsen, in his second
full season at the helm of D.C. United, led the club to a second-place
finish in the Eastern Conference (17-10-7; 58 points) and its first
post-season berth since 2007. After captain and 2011 MLS MVP Dwayne De
Rosario was sidelined with an MCL injury in September, Olsen guided the
club to a nine-match unbeaten streak (6-0-3), including playoffs, the
League’s second-longest undefeated span in 2012. At the time Olsen was
hired permanently as head coach on November 29, 2010, he was - at
33-years old - the youngest coach in the League.
Pontius, United’s
longest tenured player, had a career campaign in 2012. After suffering
season-ending injuries in 2010 and 2011, Pontius set highs in goals
(12), games played (31), games started (26), minutes (2,339), shots (71)
and shots on goal (29). Six of Pontius’ 12 goals this season were
game-winners, tied for the club record set in 1996 by Steve Rammel and
tied for third in MLS in 2012. Pontius also earned team accolades as the
2012 Volkswagen Most Valuable Player Award, Volkswagen Fans’ Choice
Award, Volkswagen Goal of the Year and the club’s Golden Boot.
The Rookie of the
Year award will be announced on November 19, while Coach of the Year and
Comeback Player of the Year accolades will be revealed on November 27.
The list of finalists for the aforementioned honors, as well as the full
announcement schedule follows.
Rookie of the Year Finalists Austin Berry (Chicago Fire) Nick DeLeon (D.C. United) Darren Mattocks (Vancouver Whitecaps FC) Coach of the Year Finalists Ben Olsen (D.C. United) Peter Vermes (Sporting Kansas City) Frank Yallop (San Jose Earthquakes) Comeback Player of the Year Alan Gordon (San Jose Earthquakes) Eddie Johnson (Seattle Sounders FC) Chris Pontius (D.C. United) Awards Announcements Schedule: Schedule subject to change
November 19: MLS Rookie of the Year, Xbox Fair Play Individual & Team of the Year November 20: MLS Defender of the Year, MLS W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian of the Year, and Referee/Assistant Referee of the Year
November 26:2012 MLS Best XI November 27: MLS Coach of the Year and Comeback Player of the Year November 28: Allstate Goalkeeper of the Year and Newcomer of the Year
November 29: AT&T Goal of the Year, MLS Save of the Year and Volkswagen MLS MVP
Ben Olsen, numerous players to visit Walter Reed Medical Center
Player appearances: October 15 – October 19
Washington, D.C. (October 15, 2012) –
D.C. United will continue its community outreach in the Metro Area this
week with appearances by first team members at Walter Reed Medical
Center, Bruce Monroe Elementary School and Payne Elementary School.
Player(s): Ben Olsen, Mike Chabala,
Maicon Santos, Bill Hamid, Daniel Woolard, Stephen King, Josh Wolff,
Brandon McDonald, Chris Pontius, Robbie Russell and Joe Willis What: Visit to Walter Reed Medical Center When: Monday, October 15; 1-3 p.m. Where: Walter Reed National Military Medical Center 8901 Wisconsin Ave Bethesda, MD 20814
Player(s): Conor Shanosky and Lance Rozeboom What: United Reads at Bruce Monroe Elementary School When: Wednesday, October 17, 2-3:15 p.m. Where: Bruce Monroe Elementary School 3560 Warder St., NW Washington, DC Player(s): Lewis Neal and Mike Chabala What: United Reads at Payne Elementary School When: Thursday, October 18; 2-3:15 p.m. Where: Payne Elementary School 305 15th St., SE Washington, DC
The latest episode of Fans of Unitedis out now. In episode 12 hosts Devon McTavish, Eric Hunsaker, and Chris Wimmer discuss recent wins by the Black-and-Red over Colorado and Toronto, led by Dero and Salihi.
The podcast crew also look ahead to Saturday's D.C. rematch against New England as United set their sights on the No. 1 spot in atop the MLS Eastern Conference.
Fans of United hosts Devon McTavish, Eric Hunsaker, and Chris Wimmer chat with Dave Johnson, D.C. United's television play-by-play voice for CSN. The guys discuss the current road swing, Ben Olsen's influence on the roster, and the chances for United to end the franchises current playoff drought.
The crew also look ahead to United's match against Houston as the Dynamo open their new stadium, BBVA Compass Park.
D.C. United vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC (8/13/2011) On Saturday evening in front of a very small crowd at R.F.K. Stadium D.C. United took on Vancouver Whitecaps FC for the first match-up between the two MLS clubs.
For United it was a decidedly different look on the field and the sidelines as Head Coach Ben Olsen and recent USMNT call up and current United starting Goalkeeper Bill Hamid where both out due to Red Card suspensions.
In place for Hamid was University of Denver product Joe Willis who got his first career start in goal over Steve Cronin. On the other side of the field USMNT World Cup veteran and Whitecaps player Jay DeMerit (capt.) got his first start coming back from injury. Starting Lineups:
The first half saw few shots or opportunities for both teams after D.C. controlled the first 15 min. of the match. The game got noticeably more physical near the 30th minute and eventually Vancouver earned a free kick just outside of the box. The ensuing kick went off the top post and bounced around dangerously until rookie keeper Willis was able to pounce on it inside the 6 yard box.
D.C. UNITED GOALKEEPER JOE WILLIS On his game-changing save during Vancouver’s first half free kick:
"On the free kick the wall was setup nicely. [Vancouver] had one guy on the inside of the wall, and I had Clyde [Simms] set things up for me. They hit a nice free kick, but I was able to get a hand to it."
In the waning minutes of the first half Chris Pontius scored the first goal of the match for the Black and Red with a sliding goal after the cross from Dwayne De Rosario deflected off Whitecaps goalkeeper Jay Nolly (former United player, 2007). The first half ended just seconds later giving United a big lift heading into the locker room.
The second half saw D.C. pick up where they left of when Andy Najar made a run all the way to the end line before taking a shot that the keeper allowed to go through his legs giving D.C. United a second goal for a 2-0 lead. Later on in the second half Charlie Davies, who had struggled all match to get things going on offense, received a yellow card after going down and complaining about not receiving the call. In the 63rd minute Chad Ashton filling in for the missing Olsen would call on his first sub for United as he brought on Steven King for Santino Quaranta.
De Rosario who was working hard as usual has shot go off post, gets the rebound and skies follow up shot. Pontius, King, and De Rosario on the attack - King shoots the rebound lands to Pontius who puts it away for his second of the match and a 3-0 lead at the 70th minute. With the game securely in hand and up 3-0 United continued to pour it on and King would eventually find the back of the net for the final goal of the match (first of the season for King) that saw United pick up 3 points at home in clearly their best performance at R.F.K. this season.
D.C. UNITED ASSISTANT COACH CHAD ASHTON
Overall thoughts on the game:
Big [relief], it feels like it’s been a long time coming. I don’t remember the last time we had a game like that. It was good; I think we have been knocking on the door for a performance like that for a while, and to put it all together is a good feeling. Hopefully we can realize the things we did well and use them going forward.
The best performers of the game for D.C. where Joe Willis who was named player of the match as well as Pontious and De Rosario who both controlled the play on offense for the Black and Red.
With the win United sits in sixth place in the Eastern Conference just 7 points behind the first place Columbus Crew. United will play on the road next against the Chicago Fire August 18th.
On Tuesday at RFK Stadium D.C. United hosted local coaches for an Open Practice and Coaches Clinic. Hundreds of coaches enjoyed a day that included observing an actual United practice session, free lunch provided by Ledo Pizza, raffle prizes, and a 45 minute training session ran by Ben Olsen, Pat Onstad, and Chad Ashton.
Coaches arrive for Open Practice event at RFK.
The opportunity for local coaches to be able to see first hand how an MLS coaching staff runs their sessions and works with both professional and academy level players is a valuable one for coaches at any level.
The United staff expressed the importance of their in house academy program and the hopes of expanding the age levels covered by the academy. D.C. United lead the way within MLS with regards to moving players through their academy system and onto the first team as evidenced by the 4 players that have seen significant time on the field with United. One day D.C. hopes to surpass the IMG Academy and have its very own housing/school facility run by the franchise.
For those coaches that did get the opportunity to attend they surely enjoyed the experience and will have plenty of material to take back to their teams as well as being part of a great community building day with other coaches from the area. If you did not make it out to the Open Practice and Coaches Clinic you still have one more chance to learn from the D.C. United staff at the next Chalk Talk activity in September: Register Here.
Grand Prize Raffle Winner!
Special thanks to all of the D.C. United coaches and staff for putting on a well attended and quality experience for the coaches. Check out more photos from the event on the VASoccerNews Facebook Page.
A missed penalty shot from leading D.C. United goal scorer Charlie Davies was a clear sign that the game against the bottom dwelling New England Revolution would not end well.
Davies has scored 8 goals this season most of them coming from penalty kicks but he was unable to get back to his scoring ways in a 1-0 loss at home to the Revoultion.
Coach Ben Olsen:
"[Charlie Davies] missed a penalty kick – I’ve missed them, we’ve all missed them. I’m not too worried about that; I thought he played better today. I thought he was pretty good running off the ball. It was just that final stuff that failed him tonight, but he got into some good spots and he was dangerous."
N.E. Goalkeeper Matt Reis:
On Charlie Davies’ missed penalty kick in the first half:
"[The missed penalty kick] was huge because we didn’t have to play from behind and also I thought even though it was maybe the correct call, I thought it was kind of a harsh call because Pat [Phelan] really didn’t know anything about [the call], but those are the rules."
In what has become a somewhat frustrating season for rookie defender Perry Kitchen the lone goal by scored by New England was the cause of a missed mark in front of the United goal by Kitchen. May it be time for Head Coach Ben Olsen to give the rookie some time on the bench or the reserve squad to get his form back?
Goalkeeper Bill Hamid did play another stellar game in net for the Black and Red but the lack of scoring from his teammates did little to help the cause. If D.C. United want to make a serious push towards the playoffs then the newly acquired players and the existing roster players need to get on the same page and do it immediately before this season slips away from them.
Next up for United: International friendly against Everton July 23.
Charlie Davies made his return to the line-up for the Black and Red against rivals L.A. Galaxy but was unable to bag a goal in the scoreless draw in Carson, CA.
With the tie against the Galaxy, D.C. United currently stand in third place in the Eastern Conference behind Philly and N.Y.
United are now unbeaten in their last five MLS matches.
D.C. United Head Coach Ben Olsen:
"I think overall we are pretty excited that in the last two games we get four points on the road. I am a little disappointed in not getting three points today. I thought we had some good chances. If only we were a little bit sharper in the final third. We are a little happier right now. Good trip. But, still, you know, we need to get those (three points). We need to start doing that. But, again, I am overall pretty happy."
Though it is still early in the MLS season (7 weeks in) United Head Coach Ben Olsen will be looking to mix up spots in tonights lineup in an attempt to stop the current losing streak and hopefully slow down the rate at which United have been surrendering goals. The Black and Red have lost three in a row and their last two league matches while giving up 11 goals over that stretch.
Davies started the season strong with 5 goals but has not scored in his last three games. His last goal coming April 16th against Toronto FC.
With Philly and New York playing so well this season and sitting 1-2 in the Eastern Conference is this already a must win for D.C. United and coach Ben Olsen?
Few players in the history of the Virginia men’s soccer program have been as impressive as Ben Olsen. In his three-year career as a Cavalier, Olsen tallied 34 goals, 41 assists and 109 total points before foregoing his senior year to play professionally. Olsen currently shares second place on Virginia’s all-time list for most points in a season with 54, holds sixth place for goals in a season with 19, third and fifth for assists in a season with 17 and 16, respectively, and third for career assists with 41. He was also named the Soccer America Collegiate Player of the Year in 1997.
Olsen joined D.C. United in 1998 and was subsequently named the MLS Rookie of the Year that season, establishing himself as a valuable asset on the right wing. Throughout his 10-year career with D.C. United, Olsen won two MLS Championships, was named the MLS Championship Game’s most valuable player in 1999, and earned the title of MLS All-Star twice.
Olsen has also represented the USA at the international level, appearing in the 2006 World Cup.
After retiring in October of 2009, Olsen stepped in as D.C. United’s interim coach in August 2010 and was officially named head coach in Nov. 2010.
It has been an extremely busy offseason so far for the 4-time MLS Cup champions. They have resigned amazing rookie sensation and 2010 MLS ROY, Andy Najar and named Ben Olsen as the full time head coach heading into 2011.
Here is a quick look at the players that are IN/OUT so far:
IN:Dax McCarty (trade with POR), Joseph Ngwenya (Re-Entry Stage 1), Ethan White (Univ. Maryland), Josh Wolff (Re-Entry Stage 2), Steve Cronin (trade with POR)
In an official press release, Ben Olsen Named D.C. United Head Coach, quite possibly the most popular player in United history had the interim tag removed from his title and will now be leading his former team as Head Coach.
The former University of Virginia player (34 goals, 41 assists in 3 years) will now attempt to lead the Black and Red back to the top of the MLS.
While playing for D.C. United Olsen won MLS Rookie of the Year in 1998. He will now have the latest MLS ROY in Andy Najar along with a promising group of home grown talent from the United system.
United fans, players, and management are hoping that as Head Coach Olsen will lead the team to another MLS Cup like he did twice as a player (99, 04).
