It is rare to see a 20-year-old centerback do well on the professional level, and it's tough to remember many doing well in Major League Soccer, but D.C. United rookie Ethan White has been an exception to that rule, growing into a quality central defense option for the Eastern Conference club.
White enjoyed one of the best games of his young career on Saturday, partnering with Brandon McDonald to help shut down the New York Red Bulls' high-powered offense in D.C. United's 1-0 victory. Facing the likes of Thierry Henry, Luke Rodgers and Juan Agudelo, the former Maryland product never flinched and won every challenge that came his way. The performance made White an easy choice for SBI MLS Rookie of the Week.
White beat out Sporting KC's C.J. Sapong, Houston's Kofi Sarkodie and teammate Perry Kitchen for this week's honors.
What did you think of White's performance? What rookie impressed you the most this past weekend?
Share your thoughts below.
Nice to see a defender win this. It seems like it almost always goes to whoever scored or had a key assist. Not that those are bad things, just its nice to see quality play rewarded when it isn’t so obvious.
Watch out for Kofi Sarkodie. Couple of starts in a row and he is looking better and better.
Hopefully Sarkodie and S.Williams get a chance at the Olympic team! There both quality.
United!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dumb question time. Are White and Sarkodie U.S.-eligible or duals?
White is American through-and-through.
I have a feeling that dc is going lose their defense to the olympics next summer. White kitchen and hamid
Way to go, Ethan! Repping DCU and UMD Terps well. Who would have though coming into this year he’d have to go toe to toe with Thierry Henry (and play well too!). I hope this is just the beginning.
They are both born and raised American.
Yeah, it’s going to be brutal. Hamid and Kitchen for sure, 76% sure White also makes the trip.
What’s WHite? Chopped liver?
I wouldn’t be too sure about Hamid. MacMath, Edwards, Cropper, Samir Badr, even Sean Johnson — these guys have time in with US squads.
Eh, not that concerned. Sean Johnson and Hamid would be my picks. We’re talking two players who are playing better than many starters in the league.
but can he play left back?
Sarkodie and his older brother are of Ghanian parents, no?
Maryland could put together a pretty good 11 with all the guys they have playing professionally: Maurice Edu, Clarence Goodson, Omar Gonzalez, Ethan White, Zack MacMath, Graham Zusi, Robbie Rogers, Jeremy Hall, Rodney Wallace, AJ Delagarza among others, defense would be killer at least
only a striker away from a solid starting XI there.
Jason Garey is technically a striker.
Yes, but Cropper and Badr at least are with better teams.
Twellman
Anyone else think he looks like Gooch/CD9 love child?
ROFL
So? Both played for US youth teams.
Yeah, so is Cervi: Celtic. What does the quality of a team matter if one doesn’t play?
Hamid is a beast, he should be the starting keeper for our Olympic team, he’s currently #1 on the (constantly fluctuating) list of American GK prospects. Cropper will be the U-20 GK.
Can’t unsee…