D.C. United just keep climbing up the ladder.

For the first time this season, Ben Olsen's squad has cracked the top five of the SBI MLS Power Rankings. United defeated the Houston Dynamo 3-2 on Saturday, stretching their unbeaten run to seven games and claiming consecutive wins for the first time since June 2009.

West may be best for baby (we think that's science) but the East is where it's at yo! That's right, hot off the heels of our highly factual and influential MLS Western Conference preview (see below) we shift focus to the continent's eastern seaboard... as well as Kansas and Houston.　
Everyone on this continent knows east is a beast!

Photo by Jose L. Argueta/ISIphotos.com

By AVI CREDITOR

The majority of D.C. United's offseason roster questions have not fully been answered, and as the club's preseason got underway with the first day of training on Wednesday, it is clear that there is plenty to be done before the team takes its final shape.

Photo by Jose L. Argueta/ISIphotos.com

By THOMAS FLOYD

After D.C. United and the Chicago Fire had their fair share of defensive struggles throughout the 2011 MLS campaign, the two teams both had a notable silver lining to take away from their friendly Sunday: no goals allowed.

Photo by Jose L. Argueta/ISIphotos.com

By AVI CREDITOR

Santino Quaranta likely deserved a less abrupt end to his playing career. Instead, he is getting an unprecedented chance at a new beginning.

After not being offered a new contract with D.

There are some stories in life and sports that force us to re-evaluate what is important. This is one of those stories. It is the story of a young man whose courage, determination and heart has touched the lives of professional athletes from all over Major League Soccer and beyond. Evan Mundine, a 13 year old boy from Texas has found a way to connect with athletes in the best ways possible.

There are some stories in life and sports that force us to re-evaluate what is important. This is one of those stories. It is the story of a young man whose courage, determination and heart has touched the lives of professional athletes from all over Major League Soccer and beyond. Evan Mundine, a 13 year old boy from Texas has found a way to connect with athletes in the best ways possible.

Photo by Jose L. Argueta/ISIphotos.com

By THOMAS FLOYD

For D.C. United fans anxious over the club's four-year playoff absence, this past offseason was an exercise in patience.

While United came back from the worst campaign in club history in 2010 to compete for a postseason berth until last season's final week, a lack of experience in the back, consistency up top and depth all around derailed their chances.

BC Place will be rocking for the season opener. (Getty Images)

We are finally back to the normal weekly posts here. It is Thursday which means it is time to take a dip into the stories I'll be focusing in on this weekend as Major League Soccer kicks off their 17th season.

We got things off to a bit of a bang last night in the CONCACAF Champions League, with Seattle downing Santos 2-1 and Toronto and LA playing to a 2-2 draw in front of a rocking crowd at the Rogers Centre.

BC Place will be rocking for the season opener. (Getty Images)

We are finally back to the normal weekly posts here. It is Thursday which means it is time to take a dip into the stories I'll be focusing in on this weekend as Major League Soccer kicks off their 17th season.

We got things off to a bit of a bang last night in the CONCACAF Champions League, with Seattle downing Santos 2-1 and Toronto and LA playing to a 2-2 draw in front of a rocking crowd at the Rogers Centre.

Major League Soccer is in middle of a recent wave of quick to head coaching duty post-playing career hires. Of the 13 former players that are now head coaches the following were hired during the Seattle Sounders era, most with little time coaching pro club soccer, even as assistants - Ben Olsen, Robert Warzycha, Jesse Marsch, Jay Heaps and Robin Fraser.

D.C. United's Nick DeLeon battles Sporting K.C.'s Kei Kamara for position during the preseason. (Photo: Joshua Pearson)

(Editor's note: Prior to each Revolution match, New England Soccer Today will invite a reporter who covers the Revolution's upcoming opponent to provide greater insight on what to expect on gameday.

The best coaches understand that there is no one solution to improving a team. There are 22 people on the field and you can only try to control what 11 of them are doing while the other 11 try to foil their efforts. The game of soccer is simple, but those darned humans playing it make it infinitely variable and complex.

Another week is in the books for Major League Soccer. Week 9 kicks off tomorrow so it is time to get the rankings out of the way.

A decent amount of movement this week for me. The top three remain the same while the second tier continues to get interesting. The third tier continues to shrink though as another club dropped to the bottom group, which is also growing like weeds.

By THOMAS FLOYD

Chivas USA and the Los Angeles Galaxy may be toiling near the bottom of the Western Conference standings, but their annual rivalry clash at the Home Depot Center on Saturday has become a must-see event.

The match comes two days after Chivas pulled off a pair of high-profile trades, sending Heath Pearce to the New York Red Bulls for Juan Agudelo and acquiring Danny Califf from the Philadelphia Union for Michael Lahoud.

Sporting KC released the names today of their currently trialists that are in camp as the team prepares for preseason training out at the Chiefs indoor training facility. There looks to be some decent talent out there trialing right now, it'll be interesting to see who, if any, travel to Arizona, and which ones potentially make the team.

There's nothing quite like the phrase 'Chicago Fire game'. In the cold months of December and January, it can be difficult to remember the team plays these things. It's why the Chicago Fire Soccer Club exists.

Preseason has been in full-swing for over a week, it's time to see strategy in action.

Photo by Jose L. Argueta/ISIphotos.com

By AVI CREDITOR

WASHINGTON -- Perry Kitchen had just about everything including the kitchen sink thrown his way in 2011.

As a rookie, Kitchen started 30 of a possible 34 games for D.C. United, splitting time across three positions.

Photo by Tony Quinn/ISIphotos.com

By THOMAS FLOYD

WASHINGTON -- This past fall, when D.C. United general manager Dave Kasper contemplated his goals heading into the offseason, two of the first priorities that came to mind were adding veteran leadership and strengthening his team's back line.

DC United sign Hamdi Salihi as a designated player. Salihi, an Albanian, comes from Rapid Vienna where he scored 53 goals in 90 appearances for the Austrian club. The 28 year old has been wanted all over the world, with great offers coming from Scotland.

Salihi will wear the number 9 after Charlie Davies failed to make a reasonable impression on the United management.

Saturday I got my first look at DC United this year. It was a preseason match against the Chicago Fire. With a newly acquired DP, DeRo with a new contract, Branko Boscovich fully healed, and Bill Hamid backstopping; United might be back.
Is all the firepower going to be enough to overcome the defensive woes of last year though?

D.C. United returned to Charleston, SC to compete in the 2012 Carolina Challenge Cup this past weekend. United are the current defending champions of the preseason tournament having won the two previous cups.
Apperently a return trip to South Carolina was just what the team needed as the Black and Red picked up their first preseason win and new Designated Player, Hamdi Salihi, scored a beautiful goal in the match against the Chicago Fire.

DC United continue their strong performance at the Carolina Challenge Cup against the Charlseton Battery defeating the Battery 3-1 and winning the "Coffee Pot Cup." The Coffee Pot Cup is won by the team who wins this match each time they play. It's a great example of the MLS-USL rivalry that hardly exists anywhere else.

Team: D.C. United Coach: Ben Olsen Last Season: 9-13-12, 7th Eastern Conference, 13th Overall Hashtag: #DCU There is a sense of anticipation around the DC United fan base this season, a sense of anticipation that fans have not had for a few years. ...
Visit http://www.majorleaguesoccertalk.

Team: D.C. United Coach: Ben Olsen Last Season: 9-13-12, 7th Eastern Conference, 13th Overall Hashtag: #DCU There is a sense of anticipation around the DC United fan base this season, a sense of anticipation that fans have not had for a few years. ...
Visit http://www.majorleaguesoccertalk.

DC United announced on Friday that US National Team veteran forward Josh Wolff will serve as player/assistant coach in 2012. "Josh's experiences all over the world, his personality, and his skills on the pitch will make him an integral part of the team this season," DC coach Ben Olsen. "A leader on and off the field, Josh will play a greater role both on the field and in the locker room with these new coaching.

DC United (and top draft pick Nick DeLeon, left) hosts defending Eastern Conference champion, Sporting KC, in the season opener of the 2012 season, and after having lost to SKC here in the final match of 2011, DC drastically re-tooled ...

By THOMAS FLOYD

WASHINGTON -- C.J. Sapong may be a hometown kid, but on this night, he didn't leave the D.C. fans terribly pleased.

The Sporting Kansas City striker and Northern Virginia native nodded home a Graham Zusi corner kick in stoppage time, stunning the RFK Stadium faithful as the visitors recorded a 1-0 win over D.

Well, that went about as expected. Sporting KC are one of the strongest, if not the strongest, team in the Eastern Conference, and return almost their entire starting lineup from last year. Little wonder that they looked more fluid on the ball and in their movement than a United side that is still figuring itself out and integrating new pieces.

Who says you can't go home? Manassas, VA native C.J. Sapong headed a corner kick into the net in the 93rd minute to help Sporting Kansas City notch a 1-0 road victory over DC United. While KC had a majority ...
Visit http://www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com for the rest of the story.

If you are a fan of D.C. United then the way the 2012 MLS season opener ended could not have felt any worse.
After playing 90 minutes of uninspired play, that was lacking both excitement for the home crowd fans as well as any noticeable chemistry between the much hyped United roster all throughout this pre-season, United had their heart broken by none other than local Manassas, Virginia product and former D.

Photo by Jose L. Argueta/ISIphotos.com

By AVI CREDITOR

WASHINGTON -- Joe Willis was well aware of the early-season opportunity that could come knocking at his door, and now that moment has arrived.

With starting goalkeeper Bill Hamid slated to miss D.

Just an incredible scene last night in LA. I won't go into the sad facts of Seattle down in Mexico but let's all tip our hats to Toronto FC for being the only MLS side left standing in the CCL after last night. Wow. I never thought I would type that little bit of info.

Now LA, Toronto and Seattle have to move on to another weekend of league play.

Looks like it could be a long year for Peter Nowak. (Getty Images)

I know folks like myself and other writers out there didn't make this one easy going into the season. We all kept saying the Eastern Conference was the weaker side and how it would struggle against the West.

After two weeks of the new season, that statement rings true.

Looks like it could be a long year for Peter Nowak. (Getty Images)

I know folks like myself and other writers out there didn't make this one easy going into the season. We all kept saying the Eastern Conference was the weaker side and how it would struggle against the West.

After two weeks of the new season, that statement rings true.

Join the guys on the 100th episode of the UnitedMania.com podcast. Randy Ruff joins the guys for a little reminiscence of the last few years with the show. The boys review DC United's last two league matches and look ahead to next weeks' match against Dallas. They also go over the MLS Scoreboard and the rest of the action across the league.

DC United opened its season against four of the stronger teams in MLS and the results until Friday night's were predictable. Two losses followed by a tie showed that the team had some defensive competence, but lacked scoring punch. Then FC Dallas came to town.

With Chris Pontius still a half step short of full effectiveness and Andy Najar still away with Honduras, United Coach Ben Olsen had to rely on two young wingers to make good things happen.

The New England Revolution is preparing to close out a two-match extended road trip (they never returned to Foxboro after the LA game) against FC Dallas in Frisco. The Revs are brimming with confidence and enthusiasm after dominating the Galaxy 3-1 in LA. Dallas, meanwhile, was just spanked 4-1 by D.

What exactly to make of D.C. United's 4-1 dismantling of FC Dallas on national TV last week? Was it a sign that Ben Olsen's rebuilding project in DC is complete? Is it a sign that FC Dallas has suddenly plummeted from its perch as a Western Conference contender? Or is it just another sign of parity in a 2012 season that's already seen the Seattle Sounders, LA Galaxy, and Real Salt Lake lose at home to teams that didn't make the playoffs in 2011?

Young coach Ben Olsen knows exactly how good D.C. United were. His goal this season is to start to bring them back to that historic level, a level that was killed off when the Seattle Sounders FC showed that RFK is a great place to win trophies on the road. Over these three years when the teams have gone head to head Seattle collected a 3-1-0 +2 Goal Differential in the other Washington.