The Houston Dynamo took a good long look, and then on Friday afternoon finally announced what had become a given: the signing of 2012 draft picks Warren Creavalle and Brian Ownby (pictured above). The move adds depth, youth and a double dose of athleticism to their established core of players.
Houston selected Creavalle with the 37th pick in the 2012 SuperDraft, while Ownby went in the first round of the Supplemental Draft. The pair spent the entirety of preseason camp with the club working for a contract, and after six weeks of hard work and 12 preseason matches, it has paid off.
“Full credit to those guys for making an impression on the coaching staff and players to be accepted into the group, and now it’s important that they keep on doing that,” Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear said. “We always say the hard part is to get here and now the harder part is to stay here. We’ll find out more about them as the games and training sessions go on.”
The signings provide depth in multiple spots – Creavalle adding cover at right and left back, while Ownby can play at right midfield or up front – and leaves former Indios de Ciudad Juárez defender Oscar Recio as the only unsigned player still in camp ahead of Sunday's clash with Chivas USA (6 pm CT, Galavision).
“Getting the contract was great, but it doesn’t mean that I stop working or am comfortable now,” Creavalle said. “I’m still a rookie and still have to find my way into the team. Really I’m still in the same spot of trying to get better every day.”
Creavalle’s and Ownby’s success in landing contracts is due in part to their versatility. Both players switched positions at the outset of camp, with Creavalle shifting to right back from central midfield and Ownby to right wing from his usual forward spot.
“I just have to work hard in practice and the reserve games and other games, and work until I get my chance and try and put on a good performance,” Ownby said. “I’m still working on my crossing because I’m used to getting that service instead, but I feel I can do it. If I can get some aspects of my game down that’ll help get me on the field.”
They’ve been successful so far. It’s not out of the question that they’ll be able to adjust and thrive in their new home.
Darrell Lovell can be reached for comment at Darrell.A.Lovell@gmail.com.
