On Friday, Anthony Wallace headed to San Jose with the rest of the FC Dallas traveling contingent, thinking the only action he would see on the field would be in the reserve game between the Hoops and Earthquakes on Sunday.
But a funny thing happened before Saturday night's game. Starting defender Adrian Serioux, who had missed training for much of the week, didn't respond well to a fitness test. So just before the starting lineup had to be turned in, FCD head coach Steve Morrow informed the 19-year-old Generation adidas player that he would start in Serioux's spot.
Saturday was not Wallace's MLS debut -- that came last Sept. 15 at New England, when he started and played 69 minutes of a 4-2 loss to the Revolution. But it was the Florida native's first full 90-minute outing in the league.
"I thought I did pretty well," Wallace said. "I had my teammates helping me pretty much through the whole game. I felt like somebody always had my back and that was a good feeling."
He was quick to credit the veteran leadership that he got from FCD center back Duilio Davino and goalkeeper Dario Sala during Saturday's scoreless draw with the Quakes.
"I got a lot of leadership from both of them," he said. "They were helping me out the whole game with everything. Every tackle I got, they were telling me good job and were positive about everything."
For Wallace, playing on the left side in a three-man backline as part of Morrow's 3-5-2 formation wasn't exactly a new experience.
"When I first started out with (Olympic Development Program) back in Florida and we played three in the back, I was playing left back," Wallace recalled. "So, I'm pretty familiar with it. I had the experience of playing there in the U-20 World Cup under my belt also, so that also helped me this past weekend."
Morrow offered high praise for Wallace's performance.
"I thought he did very well," he said. "He didn't really know that he was starting until not long before warmups, so I thought he had a good, solid game. He's a young kid with enormous potential and I think he has got a great future ahead of him. He stepped in at the last moment and did a very good job for the team. He showed his versatility as well. He's played several different positions for us this year. Wherever we put him, he does a solid job, knows what his role is and understands the game well."
When Wallace made his MLS debut last fall, he did so in central midfield. Not only did his second league start have him playing a different position, but it also showed how much the talented youngster has matured since then.
"I actually felt more relaxed during the game (on Saturday)," Wallace said. "At New England, I felt more overwhelmed with the task ahead of me and didn't get to play the full 90 then. But this time, I did much better and played the whole game. I think that I have matured a lot (since that game). Of course, there's still room for improvement but the sky is the limit."
Morrow concurred. "I think he's matured a lot," he said. "I think from this point, he just really needs to play games."
Wallace was the ninth overall pick in the 2007 SuperDraft and prior to Saturday, had played in one other game in 2008. Against Houston on April 6, he came on in the 87th minute and played the final few minutes of a 3-3 draw with Dynamo.
He has been a fixture with the United States under-20 national team, starting four of five games for them at the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada. Wallace also attended a camp with the U.S. U-23 team in Florida in January.
Morrow feels those experiences have paid big dividends for Wallace. "His experience with the national team has helped him mature," he said. "We've seen a difference in him since the start of preseason."
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
