MLS Soccer Stars

Marc Burch
Major League Soccer

2009: Marc Burch picked up right where he left off the 2008 season. As a consistent starter in the defensive line, he collected a goal and two assists throughout the course of the campaign. Burch played in 26 League matches (25 starts) and totaled over 2,100 minutes of play. Though he missed nearly a month late in the season with an ankle injury, Burch appeared in 32 games (30 starts) in all competitions.

2008: With a host of new players on the team at the beginning the year, Marc Burch found himself coming off the substitute’s bench to start the season. As a number of players were unavailable due to injury, the converted defender was moved back into the starting lineup and was used both on the left and centrally. He finished the season with 28 League appearances (21 starts), contributing three assists. In U.S. Open Cup play, the defender scored two free kick goals in United’s 2-0 third round win over the Rochester Rhinos on 7/1. In all competitions, he played in 44 games (35 starts), collecting two goals and four assists.

2007: Burch began the season with the Columbus Crew, before being obtained by United on 4/4 for a 2008 third round Supplemental Draft pick. The trade was arguably the steal of the year, as Burch stepped in to the team’s left back spot in July and didn’t give it up for the rest of the year. The converted forward made 18 appearances (15 starts) and was a constant threat to whip driven balls into the opponent’s goal box. Burch collected three assists over the season and scored his first career goal in a 4-1 victory over Toronto on 9/29.

2006: Selected in the Second Round (24th Overall) in the 2006 MLS SuperDraft by the Los Angeles Galaxy, Burch made three appearances as a substitute for LA before being traded to the Columbus Crew in July. With the Crew, Burch made seven appearances (five starts) and tallied one assist in a 3-2 loss to D.C. United on 7/15.

College

2005: Made 21 appearances after transferring to University of Maryland, contributing four goals and six assists. Burch scored the game-winning goal, a 25-yard free kick, in the College Cup final against New Mexico to bring the NCAA National Championship to the Terrapins.

2002-2004: Played for the University of Evansville, where he was teammates with United goalkeeper Troy Perkins during the 2003 season. In his time at Evansville, Burch scored seven goals and tallied 22 assists and was an All-Missouri Valley Conference pick all three of the seasons he spent with the Purple Aces.

Honors

Supporters’ Shield: 2006, 2007 | U.S. Open Cup champion: 2008

Acquired:

Obtained from the Columbus Crew in exchange for a third round 2008 Supplemental Draft pick.

Mike Chabala
Defender
Fresno, CA
University of Washington
has played four seasons in MLS
Twitter: @chabala17

Outside back who broke through as a starter for the first time in his four-year career in 2009.

MLS Experience
2009: Made breakthrough in his fourth year by winning starting left back job … Made 15 appearances and 12 starts, contributing three assists … Had three assists as a defender in MLS play ... Playoffs: Played all 210 minutes but picked up two yellow cards in series vs. SEA and was suspended for Western Conference final … Played cross that led to game-winning goal in 1-0 win vs. SEA on 11/8 … 08-09 Champions League: Did not appear in quarterfinal series … Open Cup: Played 90 minutes in 2-0 shutout at Austin on 7/1 … Helped the back line earn another shutout in 4-0 quarterfinal win at Charleston on 7/7 … Came on as substitute in 2-1 overtime semifinal loss at SEA on 7/21 … 09-10 Champions League: Started games on 8/19 vs. Isidro Metapán and 8/26 at Árabe Unido … Made substitute appearances on 9/16 at Pachuca and 10/21 at Isidro Metapán … USL1: Played two games on loan with Austin Aztex.

College
Attended University of Washington … NSCAA third team All-American, first team All-Far West Region and second team All-Pac 10 in 2004 … Honorable mention All-Pac 10 and Pac-10 All-Academic honorable mention in 2003.

Personal
Began playing soccer when he was 4 years old … Traveled on a team trip to Europe as an 8-year-old … Lists "Gladiator" as his favorite movie … If not playing soccer, he would be playing on the PGA Tour or working on Wall Street … Lists snowboarding, golf, and politics among his hobbies … Favorite athletes are Tiger Woods and Brazilian midfielder Kaká … Favorite music genres are indie rock and techno … Majored in economics at Washington and graduated in three and a half years.

Bobby Boswell
Defender
Tampa, FL
Florida International University
has played five seasons in MLS
Twitter: @littleboswell

Defender who stepped in as a regular on the back line in his first two season with the Dynamo in 2008 and 2009.

MLS Experience
2009: Started 29 of 30 games at center back and helped Houston tie for the league's lowest goals-against total … Stalwart in lineup at center back … Scored only MLS goal of the season in 1-1 tie at TFC on 7/18, tapping in a rebound to tie the game in the 74th minute … Playoffs: Played all 330 minutes of three playoff games … 08-09 Champions League: Scored first goal of Dynamo's 2009 season with a header from a corner kick in quarterfinal first leg vs. Atlante on 2/24 … Open Cup: Wore captain's armband for the first time and marshaled back line to shutout in 2-0 win at Austin on 7/1 … Again served as captain and scored second goal with back-post deflection from free kick in 4-0 quarterfinal win at Charleston on 7/7 … Started and played full 120 minutes in 2-1 overtime semifinal loss at SEA on 7/21 … 09-10 Champions League: Appeared in five games, making three starts.

2008: Offseason acquisition from DC who was the Dynamo's most consistent performer in 2008 at center back … Named Dynamo Defender of the Year, Fans' Choice Award winner, and Iron Man of the Year … Team leader with 43 starts and 43 games played out of 48 total games … Playoffs: Played all 180 minutes of series vs. NY … Champions' Cup: Played every minute of first three games but was suspended for semifinal second leg at Deportivo Saprissa on 4/9 … SuperLiga: Played every minute of the tournament … Scored goal with header in his first game back at RFK Stadium on 7/19 at DC … Scored game-winning goal in the 2-1 semifinal win vs. Pachuca on 7/29, tapping in a corner kick at the back post … Champions League: Started and played 90 minutes in four of six games.

International
United States international (3 caps) … 2007: Started and played 89 minutes in 3-1 win over Denmark on 1/20 … Named to the U.S. roster for the prestigious Copa America and played the full 90 minutes in the final group game, a 1-0 loss to Colombia on 7/5 … 2006: Made international debut as a substitute in a 4-0 win over Guatemala on 2/19.

College
Played four years at Florida International from 2001-04 ... Was co-captain as a senior as Golden Panthers won third consecutive Atlantic Soccer Conference title … Finished college career with 12 goals and seven assists in 72 appearances.

Personal
A three-time D.C. United Humanitarian of the Year honoree … Very active in the Houston community … Named Virginia representative for Cosmopolitan magazine's Bachelor of the Year in 2006 … Boswell parlayed that experience and his contest entry video into a popular website, BobbyBoswell.com, which he no longer maintains … Likes the Mexican food in Houston and the cheap living … Favorite movie is "Dumb and Dumber," and his favorite athlete is Michael Jordan because he always came through in the clutch … Has three older brothers … Majored in business management, international business and psychology.

Devon McTavish
Major League Soccer

2009: In 2009, Devon McTavish played in 11 games (five starts) in MLS play. The versatile defender/midfielder was a big part of the team’s Open Cup and Champions League campaigns, as he played every minute in four of the team’s five Open Cup games and six of eight Champions League matches. In all competitions, McTavish played in 23 games (16 starts) and collected an assist.

2008: In a season that saw a host of lineup changes from the previous year, McTavish was again one of the most versatile players on the squad. The third-year player began the year as a right midfielder and scored three goals in the team’s first two Champions’ Cup games. As injuries decimated the team, he was then used as a central back, defensive midfielder and right midfielder. He finished the League season with a goal and four assists in 26 games (25 starts). In all competitions, McTavish tallied four goals and five assists in 42 games (40 starts).

2007: After a rookie season that saw him play just 265 minutes, McTavish made giant strides during his second year. The Winchester, Virginia native made 22 appearances (20 starts) and totaled 1,825 minutes on the pitch as one of the most adaptable players on the team. Used primarily as a center back, McTavish also played at various times as an outside defender, defensive midfielder and outside winger. He was an important part of a defense that allowed just 34 goals in 30 games – third fewest in MLS.

2006: McTavish made five first-team appearances (three starts) in 2006, logging a total of 265 minutes on the pitch. He made his MLS debut on 6/21, coming on as a second-half sub in the team's 1-0 win over Chicago. He earned his first MLS start on 6/24 in United's 1-0 win over Kansas City. His time was limited when he had surgery to remove a portion of his meniscus on 7/27. McTavish also contributed to the reserve team, making eight appearances (seven starts), as the team put together a 6-5-1 record.

College

2005: Following his senior season at West Virginia University, McTavish was named to the NSCAA All-Mid Atlantic Third Team. He was also a recipient of one of the 2006 Big East Male Scholar Athlete awards. He finished his career ranked third all-time in school history with 75 matches played as a Mountaineer.

2004: As a junior, McTavish played in 20 total games (19 starts). He scored two goals in WVU's 5-0 win against Mount St. Mary's, scored the game-winner against Villanova in WVU's 1-0 win and another game-winning goal against St. John's to give WVU its first berth into the Big East semi-finals.

2003: During his sophomore campaign, McTavish started 16 of the 17 matches he saw time in. He finished second on the team in scoring, recording five goals and two assists. He scored the game-winner against St. Francis and scored two goals against Pittsburgh.

2002: McTavish started in 14 of 15 games as a freshman.

Honors

Supporters’ Shield: 2006, 2007 | U.S. Open Cup champion: 2008

Acquired

Selected in the fourth round (43rd overall) of the 2006 MLS Supplemental Draft on 1/25/06.