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Union goalie Sylvestre gets midweek game assignment

With two consecutive clean sheets, the buzzword on the Union practice field was momentum. For the first time in a season bogged down by disappointing results, the team enters its game Saturday against D.C. United on a winning streak.

With two consecutive clean sheets, the buzzword on the Union practice field was momentum. For the first time in a season bogged down by disappointing results, the team enters its game Saturday against D.C. United on a winning streak.

Absent from the practice field, however, was rookie goalkeeper Brian Sylvestre.

On Tuesday night, the keeper was called back to the Carolina Railhawks after the North American Soccer League's club's starting goalkeeper, Akira Fitzgerald, suffered a concussion. Sylvestre played for the Railhawks in Wednesday's U.S. Open Cup match against the USL's Charlotte Independence. Carolina lost the game, 1-0.

Now Sylvestre will rejoin the Union in time for the D.C. game.

"Hopefully he'll give a performance there - kind of treat it like a midweek game," Union coach Jim Curtin said. "He'll stay sharp, hopefully game sharp."

Sylvestre's three saves in last week's 2-0 win over the New York Red Bulls earned him a spot on Major League Soccer's Week 12 team of the week. Since his MLS debut against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC on May 9, the keeper is 2-1 with the Union.

The Union also welcomed back two veterans Wednesday - forward Fernando Aristeguieta and defender Raymon Gaddis.

Aristeguieta returned from training camp with the Venezuelan national team. According to Curtin, the forward was disappointed with his performance at the camp and is eager to make an impact in the United States.

"I know he can be a double-digit goal-scorer in our league," Curtin said. "I'm anxious to get him running games now and put the ball in the net, which is what he wants to do for us."

Gaddis got back to training after suffering a left ankle sprain during the game at New York. Wednesday marked the defender's first full training session since the weekend.

"My ankle is fine," Gaddis said. "Right now I'm just here to push everybody during practice and vice versa."

Gaddis is still questionable for the D.C. match, as the athletic training staff wants to ensure the ankle injury does not become a recurring problem.