D.C. United are working to counteract their early-season struggles with a return to form as the squad enters an important stretch featuring three demanding matches in 11 days, beginning with Wednesday night's home game against defending MLS Cup champs Houston Dynamo.
But off the field, it's also been something of a baby boom for United. Defender Gonzalo Peralta and his wife Leticia celebrated the birth of their second child, Mateo, on Friday, and midfielder Fred and his wife Debora are preparing for the imminent arrival of their first child, Eduardo, who is due on June 9.
"Yeah, from now on, I'm going to have in their contract, no babies during the season -- me included," joked head coach Tom Soehn, whose wife Jean gave birth to their fourth child during the early weeks of United's 2007 season.
Peralta did not travel to New England for D.C.'s 2-2 draw with the Revolution on Thursday night in order to remain with Leticia, who had to endure more than a day's labor before delivering Mateo. The newborn's healthy arrival was a joyous relief for the tall Argentinean center back, who had already missed last month's trip to California to play Chivas USA due to his wife's struggle with illness.
"We were a little bit worried, but thank God, everything went well," said Peralta, who admitted that his wife's condition made it harder to focus on soccer. "My head was elsewhere, thinking about that whole thing. She had a virus and I was really worried about all that. So now I can fully concentrate on the game."
Soehn and the rest of the United staff were more than happy to give one of their everyday starters all the time he and his family needed, however.
"Those are special things that happen in a player's life that you can't get back," said the second-year boss. "So there was no problem on our side making sure that Gonzalo was there for his wife and able to see his kid. That was an easy decision."
Another such decision may beckon this week, as the arrival of Fred's son could overlap with D.C.'s weekend trip to Chicago. Compared to the Peraltas, Fred and Debora have faced fewer complications with their pregnancy and Debora's mother has made the journey from Brazil to provide support. But the final countdown might still force United's talented left midfielder to stay at home when his team hits the road.
"I still don't know. I want to play, but I've got to talk to my wife, see if she'll let me go," cracked Fred.
Having juggled family obligations under similar circumstances over his playing and coaching career, Soehn is empathetic -- but he still couldn't resist pointing out his own track record.
"I had four kids and didn't miss any games," noted the former Dallas and Chicago defender wryly.
With United anxious to get their campaign pointed in the right direction again, Fred and Peralta have had to summon the mental strength required to detach themselves from their domestic duties and focus on the task at hand, or "tune in to work," as Soehn puts it.
"When I go on the field, I try to just forget about that and just concentrate on the game," said Fred. "That's what I've been trying to do, just separate those things."
But some things in life trump even the most important soccer match. As he prepared to hustle home to rejoin his wife and children after Monday's training session at RFK Stadium, Peralta got right to the heart of the matter.
"It doesn't compare to anything in the world," he said of his son's birth. "It's the most beautiful thing that can happen to a person."
Charles Boehm is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
