WASHINGTON, DC - Ezra Hendrickson was named by head coach Adrian Shaw to the St. Vincent and The Grenadines side that will take on Group 3 favorites Mexico on September 4th and host St. Kitts and Nevis on September 8th in a pair of World Cup 2006 qualifying matches. Hendrickson will leave for training on Wednesday, September 1st and will return on Thursday, September 9th. As a result, he will miss United's match against the Chicago Fire on September 4th.
"We wish Ezra the best of luck in his upcoming qualifying matches," said United Technical Director Dave Kasper.
Hendrickson will likely continue in his role as captain of the St. Vincent and The Grenadines side, having led the team to a 6-3 aggregate victory over Nicaragua to advance to the semifinal round of CONCACAF's qualifying for World Cup 2006. He has earned 51 caps, the last coming in St. Vincent and The Grenadine's 2-0 loss to Trinidad and Tobago.
He struck net early in his tenure with the Black-and-Red, nodding home a goal against Nottingham Forest on July 14th. In his 10 League appearances, eight of which have been starts, he has yet to tally a goal, but has added needed depth to the United defensive line and a spark to the attack.
The lanky 6'3" defender was drafted by the MetroStars in 1997 and made eight appearances before a trade sent him to the Los Angeles Galaxy. Over the next seven years, he appeared in 145 matches for the Galaxy - including a start in MLS Cup 2002 - tallying 17 goals and adding 26 assists. A July 2003 trade sent Hendrickson to the Dallas Burn, where he made 16 appearances (15 starts), picking up a goal and an assist.
