Team

Major League Soccer today announced that Chicago Fire defender Austin Berry is the 2012 MLS Rookie of the Year. D.C. United midfielder Nick DeLeon finished second in the voting.

DeLeon played in 28 matches (25 starts) is his first professional season and broke the club's rookie goal-scoring record with six goals. The talented winger also scored two goals in four matches during the 2012 MLS Cup Playoffs.

DeLeon is United's fourth consecutive MLS Rookie of the Year finalist. He is the third player to come in second (Pontius - 2009, Kitchen - 2011). Andy Najar won the award in 2010.

Below is a breakdown of the voting:

Statistics suggest United should feel confident ahead of the second leg

Heading into Sunday's Eastern Conference Final, United will either end its season on Sunday or overcome a two-goal deficit and go on to host MLS Cup on December 1. The stats suggest the Black-and-Red can do it.

At the end of regular season, only San Jose (72 GF), Los Angeles (59 GF), and New York (57 GF) netted more goals than D.C. United's 53.

D.C. United has 15 multi-goal games this year.

The Black-and-Red have netted four goals three times (against FC Dallas, the New York Red Bulls and Chicago Fire); three goals six different times (against the Houston Dynamo, San Jose Earthquakes, Toronto FC, New England Revolution, Montreal Impact and Columbus Crew); and two goals six different times (against the New England Revolution twice, Toronto FC, New York Red Bulls twice and Colorado Rapids).

D.C. United is tied for 4th in League with most wins by 2+ goals

When it comes to winning games by two goals or more, D.C. United (7) is tied for fourth in the League. Only LA (11), San Jose (9), Seattle (9), Colorado (8), New York (8), and Montreal (8) have one more games by two or more goals.

On the other side of things, Houston is tied for 4th in the League with most losses by 2+ goals. Only Chivas USA (10), Toronto FC (9), New York (8), Montreal (8), and Portland (8) have more losses by two or more goals – none of which are still in the MLS Cup Playoffs.

Houston prone to giving up goals on the road

Through 34 regular season games, only two teams given up more goals while on the road than the Houston Dynamo (29) - last place Toronto FC (37) and seventh place Montreal Impact (32).

The Dynamo were 3-9-5 on the road through the regular season, with big losses coming to the Vancouver Whitecaps (3-1 on 6/10), Montreal Impact (4-2 on 6/23), the Chicago Fire (3-1 on 9/2), the Philadelphia Union (3-1 on 9/23), and the Colorado Rapids (2-0 on 10/27).

YOU TELL US: What do you think will happen on Sunday at RFK Stadium?

D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray attends match and local institutions display club logo.

Mayor Gray and MLS Commissioner Don Garber at RFK Stadium for the playoff match on November 3. (D.C. United owner Jason Levien in the background [left].)

From the Mayor to tower cranes, the District is in full support of D.C. United during its Eastern Conference semifinal series against the New York Red Bulls. Below are some of the many expressions of support from around the city.

• Tweet Tweet: Stand up 4 DC
• Construction Cranes support D.C. United
• The Newseum lights up for D.C. United
• DC Convention Center supports the Black-and-Red
• Jack Evans: "Civic pride" in building stadium for D.C. United (WashingtonTimes.com)

Dwayne De Rosario may not be playing in the matches for D.C. United, but he is still a big part of the team. Below is a nice exchange between DeRo and his teammates.