New life for King in D.C.

When Stephen King looked at his Major League Soccer schedule to begin the season, the South Jersey native was excited to discover that the first game would be against the Union.

King, a two-time Inquirer South Jersey player of the year from Shawnee High in Burlington County, was beginning his second season with the Seattle Sounders FC.

The excitement of the opening game at Qwest Field was later tempered by the fact that King was a healthy scratch.

The 24-year-old King couldn't get on the field this year until he was traded on April 30 to D.C. United for a second-round pick in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft.

For King, it was difficult to leave an area that leads MLS in attendance (36,155 average) but he saw D.C. United as a chance to get on the field.

And that has certainly happened.

Now King will have another chance against the Union, who visit D.C. United in Sunday's 2 p.m. game at RFK Stadium.

Since going to United, King has started 10 of 12 games and has one assist while playing a defensive midfield position.

"For the rest of my career, playing against Philadelphia is always a game I will look forward to," King said. "I grew up 30 minutes from Philadelphia and for me, it will be extra special."

King began his MLS career in 2008 with the Chicago Fire and appeared in 20 games, with eight starts.

Last season in Seattle, he appeared in 10 games with three starts.

He had not been in a game for Seattle this season when the trade was made. King said he loved being with Seattle, especially with a rabid fan base.

Yet he was happy for the trade because it was a chance to be closer to his home and to where he attended college, where he was a four-year starter and key member of Maryland's 2005 NCAA title team.

"I was excited when I was traded because it was a better opportunity for me to play, and be closer to home," he said.

The extended playing time has done wonders for King's confidence. "He's finally in a situation where he's getting an opportunity to contribute on a consistent basis," said Union assistant coach Rob Vartughian, who was on the coaching staff at Maryland. "He's an honest two-way midfielder with a great engine. He rarely gives the ball away and finds himself in really good spots around the goal."

The one downfall of playing for United is that King went from a from a playoff contender in Seattle to a team that is 3-14-3 and has the fewest points (12) in MLS.

In fact the Union (4-10-5) have outperformed United and beat them, 3-2, on April 10 for their first franchise victory.

King said the Union have been impressive and he isn't surprised at the success of leading scorer Sebastien Le Toux, who has 9 goals and 9 assists after earning 1 goal and 3 assists as a teammate of King last season in Seattle.

"Everything Sebastien has gotten, he's earned, and he's a very technical finisher," King said.

Even on a struggling team, getting on the field isn't easy. King's playing time increased when teammate Clyde Simms suffered a calf injury July 31 against Real Salt Lake.

During that game, King replaced Simms in the 44th minute and played the full 90 minutes in each of United's last two matches, losses to New England and FC Dallas.

Simms is listed as probable this week, but team officials said it would likely be a game-time decision.

So King's position as a starter isn't certain, but his outlook remains positive.

"Overall, it's been great here," King said. "I am really happy and thankful for the past experience in Seattle, but this has worked out for the best."