D.C. United U-17 Stops 5 PKs on Way to SUM Cup Title

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

I’m not sure what’s going on at the D.C. United academy but they seem to be doing something very right when it comes to developing young goalkeepers. First we had 19 year-old Bill Hamid wowing us all at the beginning of the season with his age-belying, Troy Perkins-usurping play and now we have U-17 keeper Dakota Niedermeier dropping our jaws with a 5-block performance during tie-breaking PK’s in this year’s SUM Cup final.

And to add the cherry on top of the whole thing Niedermeier also scored the final PK for United. If this wasn’t a U-17 match I’m certain a champagne shower would have been directed his way in the locker room but since these kids aren’t even old enough to be drafted maybe they just gave him a Gatorade and a few thankful smiles afterward. As for whoever the academy’s goalkeeping coach is, there may be a few bottles purchased for him by the D.C. United faithful should he continue to produce talent like this.