Gonzaga Alum Wins Award, Earns Tryout With D.C. United

District native Dana Leary received two bits of good news yesterday.

Shortly after being named the Division III men's player of the year by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, the senior from Williams College in western Massachusetts was invited to a D.C. United tryout.

At 6 feet 4 and 220 pounds, Leary is unusually large for a soccer player. He played both defense and forward for the Ephs, who advanced to the NCAA tournament's round of 16, but primarily anchored a back line that yielded eight goals in 17 games. Leary, an honorable mention All-Met at Gonzaga High School in the fall of 2002, has also played for the Williams basketball team.

"He strikes the ball well, is exceptional in the air and he has a versatility that many players do not -- he can score goals and he can prevent goals," Williams soccer coach Mike Russosaid of Leary, who had 16 goals and seven assists in four seasons.

Leary will be honored at the NSCAA convention in Indianapolis on Jan. 13 and then report to a two-day workout with United. If the club is impressed, he probably would be invited to training camp late this month.

Although he plans to enroll in law school next year, "If I came across an opportunity in soccer, I would definitely pursue it," he said.

-- Steven Goff