When Leo Gonzalez was unavailable at the beginning of the 2014 season because of offseason surgery, Sounders FC Head Coach Sigi Schmid had no qualms with starting second-year left back Dylan Remick in his place.
So when Gonzalez was forced out of consideration for Saturday's match against the Colorado Rapids with a hamstring strain, Remick got the call and answered the same way he did in Seattle's first four matches this year.
"I thought Dylan played really well," Schmid said. "I thought his timing of his runs forward was very good. He completed his passes to put him in good shape, even on the sequence of Dempsey's first goal it was Dylan that really kept the ball alive with his effort on the left-hand side. That's something that doesn't show up in the box score, but it's something you remember."
Remick was particularly dangerous with his speed in the second half and was integral in creating scoring chances for Seattle while also holding steady on the defensive side. Seattle allowed just one goal and four shots on goal to return to the win column at CenturyLink Field after two straight home losses.
"He did fantastic, especially in the second half when he started bombing forward and getting very, very dangerous on the left side," Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei said. "That's when we got some success in the second half with him joining the attack. At the same time we stayed really well-balanced when our outside backs did get forward. Our organization was very good today. Every team is going to get their chances here and there, but we limited them to just a couple, which was good."
It has been a breakout second season for Remick, who played just 25 minutes last year after Sounders FC selected the Brown University product in the second round of the 2013 MLS SuperDraft. Now with five starts and 451 minutes to his credit he is providing a viable option to start for Seattle.
Gonzalez may be able to return soon, but with a busy schedule of three matches in nine days starting with a home contest against FC Dallas on Saturday, Remick will likely be called upon again in coming weeks.
As the 22-year-old defender has shown already this season, he is ready to handle the work load if it is asked of him.
"It always feels good to play, especially in front of our home fans," Remick smiled Saturday, keeping his even demeanor after helping Sounders FC climb to the top of the MLS table with a 5-2-1 record.
