Today we continue our countdown to kickoff series with a look at the future and an eye toward the past. The Houston Dynamo enter their ninth season in 2014 and several veterans have the opportunity to set new club records or reach new heights in several statistical categories. Here is a look at what could happen this season for a group of players.
Veteran midfielder Brad Davis, who along with Ricardo Clark is an original Dynamo player, will reach 300 club appearances in all competitions if he appears in 28 games in 2014. This seems possible, with Davis averaging 29 regular season games per season over the last five seasons, plus several more games each season in other competitions. The U.S. men’s national team midfielder is Houston’s all-time leader in games, starts, minutes and assists and could widen his lead with another strong campaign in 2014.
Davis could reach another milestone as early as the March 8 season opener against New England. With his next assist, Davis will reach 100 assists in all competitions with the Dynamo. Last season, Davis became the seventh player in MLS history to record 100 regular season assists when he set up a goal in Houston’s 5-1 win over Chivas USA on Sept. 21. Davis now has 101 regular season assists, 83 of which have come with the Dynamo. With his next helper he will not only lift his total to 100 in all competitions with Houston, but the 13-year MLS veteran will tie Jaime Moreno for fifth on the MLS all-time assist list.
TICKETS: Get four tickets and a Dynamo scarf for $72 for the March 8 season opener.
Goalkeeper Tally Hall was the backup to three-time MLS Cup winner Pat Onstad in 2010. Just four years later, Hall has the chance to break two more of Onstad’s records after he eclipsed his playoff shutout record last postseason. Hall (28 shutouts) would break Onstad’s club record for regular season shutouts (37) with 10 in 2014. Hall would seem to have a decent chance to surpass Onstad – he has averaged nine clean sheets per season over the last three years and added five more in the postseason. Moreover, Hall is 12 regular season wins behind Onstad for the franchise record. Hall and the Dynamo have reached 14, 14 and 12 wins in each of the last three seasons. With 13 or more wins next season, Hall’s name will top the list.
Hall faces a similar scenario on the shutout and wins list in all competitions. Hall (39 shutouts) trails Onstad (50) on the Houston shutouts list in all competitions and is ten wins back of Onstad (67 to 57) on the wins chart in all competitions. With 12 shutouts and 11 wins in all competitions, Hall would be the club leader in both categories.
View the Dynamo all-time leaders in all competitions
View the Dynamo all-time leaders in regular season
Other noteworthy milestones that could occur in 2014:
Corey Ashe:
- 247 appearances in all competitions, will reach 250 with 3 appearances and will hit 275 with 28 games in 2014.
- 174 starts, will reach 200 starts in all competitions with 26 starts.
- 190 regular season games, will become second Dynamo player to reach 200 games with 10 appearances (joining Davis).
- 135 regular season starts, will pass Onstad (136) for third on club list with two starts.
Ricardo Clark:
- 183 appearances in all competitions, will reach 200 with 17 appearances.
- 183 appearances in all competitions, will pass Brian Mullan (184) for fifth on the club list with two appearances.
- 174 starts in all competitions, will reach 200 with 26 starts.
- 133 regular season starts, will pass Onstad for fourth on the club list with four starts.
Tally Hall:
- 106 regular season starts, will pass Onstad, Brian Mullan (127) and Brian Ching (123) and climb as high as sixth with 31+ starts.
- 138 starts in all competitions, will pass Onstad (170), Mullan (163), Ching (162) and Wade Barrett (139) with 33+ starts.
Will Bruin:
- 31 goals in all competitions, will pass Dwayne De Rosario (32) for third on club list with two goals.
- 87 career regular season games, will pass Geoff Cameron (116) and Andre Hainault (104) for ninth on club list with 30+ appearances.
- 82 career regular season starts, will pass Cameron (100) and Hainault (100) with 19 starts.
Countdown to Kickoff on March 8:
13 days: Center back combination hangs in the balance as Dynamo near season opener
14 days: New players add depth to Dynamo squad after three consecutive deep postseason runs
