With players such as Jonathan Bornstein and Sacha Kljestan, Chivas USA did well with its 2006 SuperDraft picks.
But the club also did well with that year's Supplemental Draft.
Lawson Vaughn was the 25th player selected in the 2006 Supplemental Draft and has blossomed into a dependable and talented right back. Entering his third season, Vaughn is well into his maturation process and could become one of the top right backs in the league.
Having come in as anything but a much-heralded draft pick, though, Vaughn is not about to start taking his role on the team for granted.
"The spot on the field is not guaranteed," Vaughn said. "I wanted to come back and work hard... and compete with Alex (Zotinca) for the right back spot."
Vaughn had a bit of a late start for his competition with the veteran right-sided player. Offseason ankle surgery shelved Vaughn for the first three weeks of training camp, but his recovery is coming along nicely. Vaughn played 90 minutes in Chivas USA's most recent friendly against an MLS side, having been on the field for all of the club's 3-2 loss to Toronto FC on March 10 in San Antonio.
A year ago, Vaughn set career highs in all categories. He started 22 of the 24 games he played in, logged 1,901 minutes and had one goal and two assists. He also saw time at central defense and in the midfield. This season, his opportunity to shine might come exclusively at right back.
Such a scenario would be fine by him.
"I know Jesse (Marsch), Nags (Paulo Nagamura) and (Raphael) Wicky are going to do fine in the middle," Vaughn said. "I'm very comfortable there (at right back). If that's my spot, that's my spot and I'll just try to work hard and do my best there."
Vaughn's versatility and steady play caught the attention of the U.S. national team and former Chivas USA boss Bob Bradley. Prior to the United States' training camp at The Home Depot Center in January, Vaughn was offered a chance to participate for the first time with the United States.
But his health was in issue.
"The ankle just wasn't feeling too good," Vaughn said.
Ultimately, the choice came to participating with the U.S. national team or skip the camp and prepare for the 2008 MLS campaign.
"I talked to the trainers ... and we just felt it was a better idea to rest up and see how it was and come back and assess it and see if I needed surgery or not, which I ended up getting," Vaughn said. "I felt the MLS season was a little bit more important for me personally than a training camp."
Still, having been considered for the U.S. national team served as some motivation for the 23-year-old Georgia native.
"I've been told by people to keep working hard and I'll get my chances to show myself at that level," Vaughn said. "It gives me a lot of confidence that the higher guys still have me in mind."
Improving is not something that Vaughn feels will come along. It's a goal he said he strives to meet daily.
"Every day I get up and try to make myself better," Vaughn said. "This season, I'm going to especially work on my attacking abilities and skills because I think that's needed."
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
