MLS: Is Sporting KC's Dom Dwyer Poised for a Breakout Year?
Sporting KC's Dom Dwyer has come a long way from his days at Tyler Community College in Texas. The skilled striker out of London has had an unconventional road to seeing his dream play out, but is right where he wants to be and playing as well as anyone in MLS today.
Dwyer has had more than just his pedigree as a staple of his resume. The Englishman can proudly boast that he is an MLS player, because it's something he's aspired to accomplish.
"I had dreams of coming to MLS," Dwyer had told The Kansas City Star following the 2012 MLS SuperDraft. "But I never really thought I would until last week."
As a sophomore at Tyler CC, Dwyer scored 37 goals and won the national junior college player of the year award. After a move up the NCAA ladder to attend the University of South Florida, he scored 16 goals in 21 games. It was undoubtedly evidence that he was MLS material.
Sporting KC picked Dwyer in the first round of the 2012 draft, No. 16 overall. He did make on-field appearances early in his career with the team, but has now morphed into a much more aggressive, well-rounded player.
Dwyer is currently No. 5 in MLS in shots attempted, and only four attempts behind the leader Clint Dempsey. He's also in the top 20 with respect to goals scored, in a log jam with several players at four goals. His hard style and experience as a leader is helping him into a role that he's filling nicely for the departed Teal Bunbury.
Not even a year has elapsed since Dwyer scored his first MLS goal against the New York Red Bulls. Yet already his determination and hard work ethic are clearly visible, and his numbers are backing up his confidence.
One of his better attempts at goal came against Real Salt Lake at Sporting Park when an acrobatic bicycle kick was only narrowly missed, in what would have certainly been MLS Goal of the Year and likely more than that.
His thoughts are something he likes to wear on his sleeve, and by thoughts we mean his humor and by sleeve we mean his Twitter account. Dwyer took a picture of himself with team ownership, insinuating that it was a negotiation tactic on a contract:
"Owners 💵💵💵😁 #NewContractTactics 😉 “@SportingKC: #SportingKC's @Ddwyer14 stepping up his selfie game #selfiesunday pic.twitter.com/kCZZCIGjlq”
— Dom Dwyer (@Ddwyer14) May 5, 2014"
Whether he's achieving the goals he's set for himself, working hard on the field or having some fun off of it, Dom Dwyer is going to be a winner in Kansas City and in MLS. Look for him to make the MLS All-Star team as a reserve and be a fan favorite for Sporting, perhaps for years to come.
Follow Dan Irwin on Twitter @danirwinsports or on Facebook.
