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Just another day with the Dynamo Girls ... 

It's almost fitting that today's announcement that the Dynamo signed Academy forward Bryan Salazar to a homegrown contract coincides with the sixth anniversary of the Dynamo Academy's first training session. Despite being only six years old, the Academy has enjoyed much success both on a domestic and international scale. Here are some of the key moments in Dynamo Academy history.

November 16, 2006 - Dynamo hire James Clarkson to be Director of Youth Development

When the Dynamo announced they would be launching an Academy program, the next step was finding someone to run it. Clarkson brought a wealth of experience to the table, previously serving as South Texas Youth Soccer Association's Director of Coaching as well as a national instructor for US Soccer and US Youth Soccer.

March 2007 - Dynamo Academy advances to finals of Dallas Cup

With less than three months of organized training sessions behind them, the Dynamo Academy advanced to the finals of the Dallas Cup, losing to IMG Academy in a penalty shootout. The squad was led by former Dynamo midfielder Josue Soto and Pana Vasquez, the first player to sign with the Dynamo Academy.

March 23, 2008 - Dynamo Academy breaks through and wins Dallas Cup

A year after losing to IMG Academy in the finals, the Dynamo Academy broke through and defeated IMG Academy 2-1 to win the 2008 Dallas Cup. Houston breezed through the group stage with a 10-0 goal differential, led by current Notre Dame goalkeeper Pat Wall.

February 27, 2009 - Dynamo sign Tyler Deric as first homegrown player

After a standout freshman campaign at the University of North Carolina, the Dynamo signed goalkeeper Tyler Deric as their first homegrown player. A graduate of Klein High School, Deric led his high school team to the UIL 5A state championship as a sophomore. Deric became the second player in MLS to sign a homegrown contract.

August 2009 - Dynamo Academy closes out Euro tour with win over Real Madrid Academy

It was a historic win for the Dynamo Academy and one that concluded a 12-day memorable trip for the young Dynamo players. The Dynamo U-16s followed up a win over Rangers (Scotland) with a 3-2 win over the Real Madrid U-16 squad. The trip included matches against the Celtic Academy and Barcelona Academy.

March 10, 2010 - Navas Cobo becomes second Dynamo homegrown player

After a successful stint with the Dynamo Academy, Francisco Navas Cobo became the second Dynamo player to sign a homegrown contract. The Houston-born midfielder played appeared in one regular season game during his two-year stint with Houston.

April 4, 2010 - Dynamo U-16s win Dallas Cup

After winning the tournament two years earlier, the Dynamo won for the second time in three years, defeating Santa Clara Sporting in the championships match. Current Duquesne forward Isaiah Noreiga scored two goals in the finals to cap off his four-goal tournament.

April 17, 2010 - Navas Cobo becomes first Dynamo Academy player to play an MLS game

Although it was a stoppage time substitution, Francisco Navas Cobo entered the game early-season game against Chivas USA, becoming the first Dynamo Academy player to earn first team minutes.

October 16, 2010 - Deric becomes first Dynamo Academy product to start an MLS game

With the goalkeeping unit depleted by injuries, Tyler Deric became the first Dynamo Academy player to start an MLS game when he took the field against the San Jose Earthqukes on October 16, 2010. Deric showed poise in net, stopping three shots on his way to his first win and shutout. He followed that performance up with a 2-1 win over the Seattle Sounders in season finale at Robertson Stadium.

January 2011 - Dynamo add a pair of homegrown signings

Alex Dixon and Josue Soto took different paths to get to the Dynamo, but both signed their homegrown contracts in January 2011. Soto was a standout collegiate performer at Campbell University and Southern Methodist University. Dixon was a regular at the U.S Residency program in Florida, before enrolling at the University of North Carolina.

August 20, 2011 - Dixon becomes first Dynamo Academy player to score MLS goal

Known as much for its "Woo-hoo!" goal call as it is for the actual goal, Alex Dixon became the first Dynamo Academy player to score an MLS goal with his stoppage-time winner against Real Salt Lake on August 20, 2011. Even if you have seen this goal already, it's worth watching again.

January 11, 2012 - Eddie Robinson retires from soccer and joins Academy coaching staff

With four MLS Cups on his resume, Dynamo center back Eddie Robinson chose to hang up his cleats after the 2011 season and join the Dynamo Academy coaching staff. Robinson was named head coach of the Dynamo U-16 squad and currently has the team in first place in their division with a 12-3-1 record.

May 10, 2012 - Dynamo Academy christens new stadium with soft opening event

It was a night that few of the players will forget as the Dynamo Academy U-18s played the U.S. U-17 national team in the first game at BBVA Compass Stadium. Although the Dynamo were dangerous all night, they could not find the back of the net as head coach Richie Williams and the U-17 MNT took the match 3-0.

February 14, 2013 - Bryan Salazar becomes fifth homegrown signing for Houston

Bryan Salazar joined the Dynamo Junior Academy program in August 2007 with the goal of eventually playing for the first team. His dream was realized on Thursday when he was introduced as the newest member of the Houston Dynamo.  The Fort Bend Bush High School senior leads the Dynamo U-18s with nine goals this season.

With the Dynamo set to begin the 2013 season in just 17 days – against D.C. United at BBVA Compass Stadium on March 2 – we are counting down to kickoff with a Dynamo-centric countdown to opening day. See bottom of this post for the complete countdown list.

Each day, we’ll post a short description of what makes the number significant. If you have any Dynamo-related numbers of your own, post them in the comment section below.

Today, we continue with #17:

The Dynamo scored 17 goals in the final 15 minutes of games in 2012. The number of late goals is easily a franchise record, eclipsing the previous mark of 14, set in 2011.

Houston rallied for 14 wins, salvaged a lot of important ties and completed an unbeaten home schedule in 2012. What is one thing that helps make all three possible? Late goals.

It is simple: A late goal can turn a tie into a win, a bad loss into a draw, and of course, preserve a home unbeaten streak and undefeated home season. The Dynamo specialized in late-game dramatics in 2012, with 17 goals after the 75th minute of regular season games. Houston scored a total of 48 regular season goals in 2012, with the goals in the final 15 minutes of matches accounting for a full 35% of its goals.

17 late goals in a season is historic, with only the 2012 San Jose Earthquakes (22) and 2009 Real Salt Lake (19) scoring more goals after the 75th minute in a season since the Dynamo entered the league in 2006. 

Consider this: With 17 goals after the 75th minute in 34 regular season games, the Dynamo averaged a late goal in half of their games. 

Now there are reasons why generally more goals are scored late in games. Players are tired and perhaps more mistake-prone, and teams that are desperate for a goal take more risks, leading to more goals in their favor and also leaving them vulnerable to allow a goal. Still, the Dynamo's 17 goals in the final 15 minutes of games set a franchise standard for clutch. 

Most late goals in a season (since 2006)

Late goals that helped the Dynamo achieve important results in 2012:

Houston Dynamo late goals, year-by-year

Complete Countdown to Opening Day List:

#18 - Dynamo have lost just 18 MLS home games in seven years

#19 - Dynamo finish 2012 with franchise best +19 home goal differential

#20 - Brad Davis' combined goals and assists in 2011 and 2012

Return to the blog on Thursday for number 16 on our countdown to opening day.