Young blood fuels Dynamo drive into playoff run: Influx of talent pivotal to success in season, playoffs

By Bernardo Fallas, Houston Chronicle

Nov. 5--Practice had just wrapped up Wednesday when defender Eddie Robinson made a bull's-eye observation about something he'd heard during a recent TV broadcast of a playoff game involving the New England Revolution.

A commentator had lauded New England, the team the Dynamo beat in consecutive MLS Cup finals in 2006 and 2007, for reaching the playoffs eight years in a row.

"Hey, try nine," Robinson said, referring to the number of consecutive postseason appearances the Dynamo franchise has made dating to its days as the San Jose Earthquakes.

Cameron the team MVP?

As the Dynamo prepare for Sunday's do-or-die Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinal series against Seattle Sounders FC at Robertson Stadium, the scope of the experience of the two-time champions (four-time if you include the San Jose days, which MLS doesn't want you to) is impressive.

But just as essential as the older guard -- a veteran core that includes Robinson, Brian Mullan, Pat Onstad and Brian Ching -- has been to the team's success, at no time have the team's up-and-comers played a more significant role.

Come Sunday, a new guard led by Geoff Cameron and Stuart Holden will be entrusted with helping carry the team to its third conference final in four years.

"They have given us huge minutes," coach Dominic Kinnear said. "Their impact has been crucial."

Cameron, in his second season out of Rhode Island, continues to impress. A third-round steal in the 2008 draft, Cameron, 24, surprised many with an outstanding first season that showcased his versatility and made him a finalist for MLS Rookie of the Year honors.

When a preseason knee injury and surgery took Robinson out for what would be seven months, Cameron, trained as a midfielder, was thrust into center back alongside Bobby Boswell.

Cameron quickly stood out as a smart, tough-as-nails defender with pace and became a mainstay.

Ching named Cameron (two goals, six assists) as his pick for team MVP.

Holden fills big void

Since preseason, Holden dealt with the pressure that came with replacing Dwayne De Rosario, one of the best attacking midfielders in the league. He rose to the occasion. Holden, 24 and already a key player in the rotation through his first three seasons, overcame a slow start en route to a solid season (six goals, four assists).

"I don't think, even going back to his first season, that he's overawed by anything," Kinnear said.

Also having an impact on defense are league rookie Andrew Hainault, who came to the Dynamo after three seasons in the Czech leagues, and more recently Mike Chabala, who entered his fourth season having never played a minute of MLS ball.

At 23, Hainault has proved to be the best pickup this season, with the Canadian claiming a starting spot since subbing in for injured left back Wade Barrett early in the season.

A season-ending knee injury to right back Richard Mulrooney gave Chabala, 25, his chance, and he's run with it. With the more versatile Hainault switching sides to replace Mulrooney and Barrett not quite back to top form, Chabala (12 starts, 1,044 minutes) got his first starts en route to staking claim to the left back spot.

Third-year midfielder Corey Ashe, 23, who is coming off a knee sprain, posted career highs in most categories in solidifying his role as a key player off the bench.

bernardo.fallas@chron.com

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