It’s about time MLS watchers started talking about Aaron Maund.
Maund began the season as Real Salt Lake's fourth-string center back, but lately he’s been playing out of his mind, providing a steady presence in the center of defense.
All it took was a little bit of rhythm.
Drafted 12th overall by Toronto FC in the 2012 SuperDraft after a solid NCAA career at Notre Dame, a year later Maund was traded to RSL, where the 24-year old struggled to find consistent playing time behind the likes of iron men Nat Borchers and Chris Schuler.
Maund played only 702 minutes in his first two seasons. But injuries to starters Schuler and Jamison Olave have given the Boston native an opportunity to play a key defensive role.
He has already more than doubled his career minutes with the club, logging 714 minutes in league play alone and starting every single match for RSL since May 27, save for a sixth-minute substitute appearance in replace of an injured Olave on June 7.
Maund was asked earlier this week about the increased load and whether it’s affecting him.
“I feel fine,” Maund said. “I’ve been doing all the right things off the field. I’m still young, so I don’t think it’s not too hard on my body. It’s actually been nice getting into a little rhythm, which has been good for me. It’s beneficial.”
Because of the many injuries to their defenders, RSL have been forced to shuffle their lineups almost every single match. Despite the game of musical chairs taking place in front of goal, the defense haven’t skipped a beat, and Maund's play is a big reason for that. In fact, RSL have allowed just seven goals in the nine matches in which Maund has been on the field.
“I’ve been playing with these guys in and out of preseason, and we’ve learned each other and I know all of their little nuances and stuff like that,” Maund said. “So it’s been pretty comfortable back there with the rotation that we need to use.”
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RSL head coach Jeff Cassar praised Maund’s recent play, saying it’s not easy for players to step in and perform at such a high level. RSL’s skipper pointed to a couple of reasons for the center back’s coming-out party.
“I think it’s a combination of a lot of things,” Cassar said. “I think now he’s in a nice rhythm. It’s not easy to get guys that don’t play consecutive games. A lot of times they have to step in, do really well, then they’re out for a little while. But Aaron’s now got himself into a nice groove.
“Whereas [in the past] Aaron would play a very good game and maybe make a mistake that would cost us at times, he’s eliminating that from his game and I think that’s really pushed him into a different level right now.”
With a newfound confidence in his game, Maund is grateful to the RSL coaching staff for giving him the opportunity to show what he’s got.
“It’s nice to have confidence from the coaches, for sure,” he said. “I think that whenever you get a chance to be on the field and they stick with you, it’s good. You get into a rhythm. You get a little bit of confidence. It goes a long way.”
