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 Alex Horwath (UW) was all set to go to training camp with Major League Soccer's Sporting Kansas City and compete for the No. 2 goalkeeper job.
But he couldn't get past one thought.
"In the back of my mind, I didn't really want to be a backup in the MLS right now," the 24-year-old said this week from his home in Maryland. "I think for my development as a player, especially as a young goalkeeper, I need to see games."
So when the Wilmington Hammerheads of the third division USL PRO league offered Horwath a contract – and a shot at the starting spot – he didn't need to think about it for too long.
"Wilmington kind of stepped up and put an offer together and I jumped on it," said Horwath, who signed all the paperwork Tuesday.
Horwath has been under contract with MLS the past two seasons.
He was one of the league's pool goalkeepers in 2010, training in Kansas City with the Wizards (as the team was then known), but available for any MLS team to call-up in an emergency – such as injuries, international call-ups or suspensions. He ended up spending time training with the San Jose Earthquakes, New York Red Bulls and Seattle Sounders, too, and suited up as the backup several times but didn't get into any matches.
Last year, he signed with the Red Bulls as the third-stringer keeper behind Greg Sutton and Bouna Coundoul and made his MLS debut on March 26, making five saves and earning a shutout in a 0-0 draw with the Columbus Crew. However, that was Horwath's only first-team appearance.
"Training at New York was unbelievable, because I got to play against some of the best in the world day in and day out," said Horwath, who counted Thierry Henry and Rafael Marquez among his teammates with the Red Bulls. "But you can only get so much better in training. You still have to make decisions, and that's really game experience that takes it to the next level.
"You look at a lot of the second-string goalkeepers, they don't get minutes ... It's the nature of the beast of a being a goalkeeper. Mentally, it's tough to stay focused and compete when you have veterans that are established – and rightfully so – over in the first spot. So it's tough. I still have a lot to learn, 24 for a goalkeeper is still young, really young. So getting games for me right now is ideal."
Horwath said he had some discussions with Red Bulls goalkeeper coach Todd Hoffard about being loaned out to a team in USL PRO or the second division North American Soccer League, but nothing developed because New York had an unsettled keeper situation much of the season and most USL PRO and NASL sides had veteran starting keepers. He did play regularly in the MLS Reserve League, going 2-5-0 with a 2.40 goals-against average and one shutout in 675 minutes.
Despite the lack of playing time, he has no regrets over the path he's traveled since wrapping up his career with the Badgers.
"I'm actually really happy with how things have turned out so far," Horwath said. "Being a pool goalkeeper the first year was great for me. I got to play with four or five top goalkeepers and you learn a lot from these guys – they've been in the league, they've done it. I mean, in Seattle with (Kasey) Keller, he's been everywhere, Jimmy Nielsen in Kansas City – it's great to learn from the veterans.
"And then to be established last year in New York and be settled in a spot and get the opportunity to play a little more, get a first-team game, and then learn from (German veteran) Frank (Rost) at the end of the year, I'm really happy with the way things are going. Now I think it's time for me to play and show what I can do."
Last season, the Hammerheads finished second behind eventual league champion Orlando City in the USL PRO American Division with a 14-7-3 record and were ousted by the Richmond Kickers 5-4 on penalty kicks following a 0-0 tie in a divisional semifinal. The North Carolina club opens the league's second season April 15 at Orlando City.
"It's professional sports, nothing's guaranteed, obviously, but I'm going in with the idea of being the No. 1 (goalkeeper)," Horwath said. "I think they have the same idea right now, but it's obviously going to be a competition in the preseason."
- Meanwhile, goalkeeper Josh Lambo (Middleton) is on trial with D.C. United. The 21-year-old Lambo, a former U.S. youth international, was drafted by FC Dallas with the eighth pick of the first round of the 2008 MLS SuperDraft and played in several Reserve League matches and friendlies, but didn't get into a first-team game and was recently waived. D.C. United has two keepers on its roster: Starter Bill Hamid, a 21-year-old who has become a regular with the U.S. national team, and second-year pro Joe Willis.
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