Mediate's Patience Pays Off

Six weeks had passed and Domenic Mediate had yet to step on the field for a D.C. United regular season match. He had played for the reserve squad and been named to the 18-man game-day roster regularly, but when it came time late in the match for Coach Peter Nowak to make a move, Mediate remained on the bench.

Then last weekend, with one regular away on U.S. national team duty and a couple of others injured, Mediate got his chance. Instead of being called upon as a reserve, the former Maryland Terrapin was thrust into the starting lineup for United's 2-1 victory over the Kansas City Wizards at RFK Stadium.

"After the six weeks, we thought he was ready," Nowak said yesterday. "He did very well. We'll evaluate his situation, but it's a good start."

As is his custom, Nowak wouldn't reveal his starters for tonight's match in Columbus, Ohio, between first-place United (4-1-2) and the resurgent Crew (3-3-1). Based on the way the team lined up during yesterday's light workout, however, Mediate said he doesn't think he will start again.

Nonetheless, last week's solid performance on the right side of midfield certainly boosted his standing with the coaching staff.

"The previous few weeks, the coaches had said I was playing well and I should keep my head up," Mediate said. "They said they were looking to get me in, to just be patient. When I found out I was going to start, I was really excited. I just wanted to control my emotions and go out and have a good showing and prove myself. I thought I did well. There were some things I could work on, but it was a good first outing."

Mediate served two quality crosses in the first half, tested Wizards goalkeeper Bo Oshoniyi with a shot toward the near corner and ended up playing all 90 minutes.

To go from no playing time to full time was unusual, but, Nowak explained, "people don't see what we see every single day in practice, and he was very sharp and showed very good speed. Defensively, he did the job.

"We felt we could give him a chance to see how he could do, and it was important that we know before we go into the [busy] stretch in the summer who can be ready for the games and what kind of performance they can bring. That was the first step and we'll see what he brings next."

Mediate -- a Texas native and distant cousin of pro golfer Rocco Mediate -- had 27 goals and 17 assists in his Maryland career, including 13 goals as a sophomore. After being selected by Columbus in the second round of the 2005 MLS draft, he appeared in 11 matches, starting four, and scored his only career goal against United last May at RFK.

But after missing the playoffs, the Crew decided to overhaul its roster and told Mediate that he wasn't in its long-term plans. United acquired him a few weeks before the season opener for a fourth-round supplemental draft pick in 2007 -- essentially, for nothing.

"I knew [Columbus] was going to make a lot of changes, so I wasn't surprised," he said. "I was actually relieved when I found out I was going to D.C. because of the organization and the friends I have here. Soccer reasons and personal reasons, it's a lot better fit."

United Notes: Defender Brandon Prideaux (five starts) is out at least a week with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his knee. . . .

Goalkeeper Nick Rimando, sidelined all season with a foot injury, traveled with the team and is expected to back up Troy Perkins. . . .

Midfielder Clyde Simms, out a few weeks with a hamstring injury, also made the trip. . . .

The club is planning to announce its July 12 friendly against Scottish champion Glasgow Celtic next week, but hopes of a match against English power Liverpool in early August have faded. . . .

Brazilian midfielder Ricardo Virtuoso, 22, has signed with the Crew, but he's ineligible to play until a work permit is approved. . . .

United is 1-6-3 in its past 10 visits to Columbus.