Soccer: Zac MacMath Patiently Awaiting His Turn As Union Goalie
CHESTER, Pa. (CBS) - In their inaugural season, the Achilles' heel of the Philadelphia Union was, without question, the goalkeeper position.
During the offseason, the Union made bold moves to correct that problem, signing one the world's best in veteran Faryd Mondragon (see related story) and selecting University of Maryland star Zac MacMath in the first round of the MLS SuperDraft (another related story).
Needless to say, the position is no longer a weakness in Philadelphia.
In fact, Mondragon has been so dominant in net that the 19-year-old MacMath has yet to make his MLS debut. But he says he's still growing every day.
"I'm definitely getting more comfortable with the guys, with the speed of the game, and just in general being in MLS. Every day I'm still going out there and giving them my best, working really hard in practice and everything," he tells KYW Newsradio.
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MacMath says his transition from the college game to the pros has been pretty smooth:
"I mean, I didn't really have any expectations. I kind of thought I knew what it was, and it pretty much is what I thought. It wasn't anything taxing -- I enjoy it. Getting into a routine, coming to practice every morning, and then staying for a couple hours afterwards. It's good."
And the former Terrapin says he's learned a lot watching Mondragon throughout the season.
"Leadership. He's our captain, obviously, and since preseason he has really gathered the guys -- we've got a lot of chemistry," MacMath says. "Just learning how to lead your team from the goal, in the locker room, off the field, on the field. That's probably the biggest thing I'm trying to take away from him so that, once day when I get the chance to play I can lead the team also."
MacMath and the Philadelphia Union will visit DC United on Saturday night.
Reported by Matt Leon, KYW Newsradio 1060
