Onstad in net as D.C. does the goalie shuffle
Pat Onstad was nervous for his first start in goal last week, something neither he nor D.C. United had originally planned. Bill Hamid was anxious because he hasn’t gotten a chance to play yet, and it’s not certain that he will before the regular season begins, even though he’s been focused on reclaiming United’s starting goalkeeper spot ever since right shoulder surgery in September.
“My shoulder is 110 percent,” Hamid said after United’s training session Tuesday at RFK Stadium. “I feel 100 percent ready physically. I’m 100 percent mentally. I’m ready to lead back there and be on the field. I’m just pushing these guys to get me cleared.”
United remains as cautious as Hamid has been antsy. Coach Ben Olsen is uncertain if the 20-year-old will be ready in time to play in the last of three preseason matches in Charleston, S.C., ahead of the March 19 season opener vs. Columbus.
With Hamid not cleared and goalkeeper Steve Cronin (broken wrist) on injured reserve for the regular season’s first six weeks, United will continue to rely on the 43-year-old Onstad, who put his two-month old job as D.C. assistant coach on hold to come out of retirement after Cronin got hurt last month.
| D.C. United notes |
| » Forward Charlie Davies returned to France this week to pack his belongings. He will return to Washington on Wednesday. |
| » Defender Devon McTavish (concussion symptoms) and midfielder Junior Carreiro (ankle sprain) did not practice. Goalkeeper Steve Cronin (wrist) did some jogging, and defender Chris Korb (illness) left practice early. |
| » United will host a U.S. Open Cup qualifier against the Philadelphia Union on April 5 or 6, at a site yet to be determined. |
| » United announced that it has signed defender Chris Korb. The Akron fullback was selected by D.C. with 31st overall pick in this year’s MLS draft. |
After eight years in Major League Soccer and three MLS Cups, Onstad still wasn’t sure he was ready for the job right up until D.C. played its first preseason match against MLS opponent Chivas USA last Friday in California.
“I had butterflies and stuff as the game started,” Onstad said. “I was excited, and I really enjoyed myself out there. That’s one of the first times where I kind of said, if I keep concentrating, keep moving in the right direction, I can do this again.”
For now Onstad is focused on his fitness and sharpness in net, but he realizes that an equally important task awaits him when he stops being Hamid’s teammate and once again returns to being his coach.
“That’s probably the most difficult one, is dealing with Bill and psyche,” Onstad said. “I think the unfortunate thing for Bill is we thought coming to Charleston he’d be all in, and unfortunately, it doesn’t look like it’ll be that way. He’s not far off. He’s been doing a lot of drills. He’ll be sharp, and as soon as he gets clearance from the doctor, I think he’ll be ready to play.”
