KANSAS CITY, Kan. – Dom Dwyer has a share of one more scoring record for Sporting Kansas City, but he still hasn't exceeded his expectations for the 2014 season.
“Let's go for another 10,” the high-scoring center forward told reporters after his stoppage-time header iced Kansas City's playoff-clinching 2-0 victory over Chicago on Saturday. “What are you guys laughing at? They count playoffs, too.”
Dwyer might have spoken half in jest, with only two MLS games and one CONCACAF Champions League match to go before the end of the regular season, but his production in his third year as a pro has been no joke.
His goal on Saturday was his 21st in league play this season, extending his team record, and it matched Preki's single-season record of 22 goals across all competitions from 1996 – the first year for the club, then known as the Wizards, and for the league as well.
Dwyer missed a chance to tie another of Preki's records (and, all things being equal after that, to make the all-competitions record his own with that stoppage-time goal) when he put his penalty attempt over the bar in the 13th minute. That left him one shy of Preki's mark of seven converted spot kicks, also from 1996.
“I know, throughout my career, I'm going to miss,” Dwyer said. “I'm going to miss another PK. There's going to be a time I miss an open goal. It's going to happen to everyone. You see Messi. You see Ronaldo. You see the best players in the world missing. That's something you have to deal with in the game, and I've matured and learned to deal with it.
“I still get 30 seconds where I'm mad, I'm in a mood, and then you brush it off and move on and make sure you put away the next one.”
And with his personal goal still to be achieved, Dwyer will be looking for plenty of chances to do that in the closing weeks of the regular season.
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“I'm still out to prove I'm getting better each game,” he said. “That's all I want to do. I'm not satisfied. I want more.”
How many more, though, before he reaches the mark he set for himself? He won't say – but he'll drop a hint or two.
“I'm very close now,” he said. “I need more goals than games right now.”
Steve Brisendine covers Sporting Kansas City for MLSsoccer.com.
