FRISCO, Texas – Despite the mohawk, midfielder Andrew Jacobson isn’t necessarily the loudest voice in the FC Dallas locker room.
However, having majored in legal studies at the University of California, you knew Jacobson would be reliable for some words of wisdom after giving up a two-goal lead in the final five minutes of FCD’s disappointing 2-2 draw with Chivas USA to close the 2012 season.
“[Sunday’s game] is part of growing up and it’s part of minutes with young guys,” Jacobson said. “That’s really what experience is. You don’t really gain experience when things go well, you just think I can do what I want and it will go well.”
READ: Disappointing draw "a perfect summary" of FCD's season
The 27-year-old enjoyed his best season as a professional in 2012, finishing third behind Kevin Hartman and Zach Loyd in minutes played while starting 31 games, the most of his career. He also became one of the understated leaders of the team through the injury-riddled campaign, wearing the captain’s armband for the first time in July.
“Experience comes from making mistakes and seeing things go wrong,” Jacobson continued. “So you can see it before it happens and keep a core together.”
At the heart of the experience Jacobson is talking about was the naivety of the squad in protecting the two-goal lead. Despite sitting comfortably in the driver’s seat as the clock ticked down, Dallas pushed for a third goal, something Schellas Hyndman thought may have been a bit too ambitious.
“After we scored the second goal, I think myself and [fans] and the team felt that we were really playing well and moving the ball well,” Hyndman told reporters after the game.” If there was a mistake to be learned from that, we probably tried to put too much energy into getting another goal.
It’s something we didn’t want to do, but it’s kind of hard for players to put a brake on it and keep possession.”
It’s a difficult lesson for both the young players and the veterans of FC Dallas, but one that can’t be repeated in 2013 if Dallas wants to improve on the 2012 season.
