Imagine you are a defender in MLS. Your first task is spending 90 minutes marking U.S. international Brian Ching. Then four days later, you are faced with the challenge of matching up with Carlos Ruiz, one of the top scorers in the league since coming to MLS six years ago.
That's not exactly a schedule the most grizzled MLS veteran would like to see. But now imagine you are a rookie making your first two professional starts.
That's exactly how Los Angeles Galaxy defender Ty Harden began his MLS career. The soft-spoken University of Washington alumnus was the Galaxy's second-round selection (23rd overall) in this year's SuperDraft. For someone whose goal during preseason was to just make the traveling squad, Harden has already exceeded even his own expectations this year. It's the preseason to which he credits his success.
"It's not like they just threw me out there in the first game," said Harden. "We had two months of preseason which is basically the whole college season. A lot of the learning came then."
Still, there is quite a difference between a preseason scrimmage and a league game, of which Harden is more than aware.
"Playing in front of 20,000 or 30,000 people is definitely different than having a knock-about here on Field 6," he said.
Harden pointed to one preseason game in particular that really helped to establish his confidence on the field, and helped him prove to his coach Frank Yallop that he was ready to take on the big boys. In a preseason scrimmage against Houston, which the Galaxy eventually won 1-0, Harden was thrust into the starting XI as the Galaxy were dealing with several injuries on the back line. He matched up with Ching in that game.
"I played against Brian Ching then for almost 90 minutes," Harden said. "That really helped my confidence, especially for that first (regular season) game."
He has definitely earned the confidence of his coach so far this season. As the Galaxy roster starts to heal up in the midst of their extended layoff, it doesn't appear as though Harden is going to relinquish his starting role easily.
"(Harden's) played well. He doesn't look out of place at all," said Yallop. "You probably can't get two harder games to start off with. But he's done well and I'm very pleased with him. I think he has a bright future."
His coach isn't the only person in the Galaxy camp that Harden has impressed. Veteran defender Tyrone Marshall has had to get used to a new partner in the center of the Galaxy back line, and the Jamaican international said Harden has acquitted himself well.
"For a rookie, he's doing pretty good. He's doing everything right, being solid and just listening to the guys around him," said Marshall. "He's very humble. He's getting the job done and that's all you can ask of him."
That humble nature is evident when Harden speaks of Marshall too. He attributes much of his early success to the 10-year MLS veteran.
"(Marshall) makes it so much easier on me. He's always in the right position," said Harden. "He's always talking and telling me where to be. He makes the game a lot simpler for me."
Possibly the best attribute that Harden has going for him is that he's very well grounded. He knows that he is going to go through growing pains, and mistakes will be made. In the Galaxy's last game, Harden had a tough call go against him that led to a penalty kick, and eventually the Dallas opening goal.
"I've talked to Frank and Alexi both before the games and they said everybody's going to make mistakes," said Harden. "At center back, sometimes it's a bit more obvious because it might lead to a goal. It's how you react to it that proves a good player. I just try to forget about it and make the next play."
The next step along the path for Harden will most likely be a start against Columbus next Wednesday in their U.S. Open Cup qualifying match. While the beginnings of his career might be overwhelming for some rookies, Harden appears to have everything in perspective, and has handled every challenge that's been thrown his way thus far.
Greg Daurio is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
