United Notebook

Last month D.C. United received a very special email from a family in Florida. The family, and particularly their youngest daughter Brooke, are diehard D.C. United fans, despite living almost 1000 miles from Washington DC. When they heard the news that the Black-and-Red would be playing in the Disney Pro Soccer Classic, they made plans to travel to Orlando for the first match versus the Tampa Bay Rowdies.

Following the match, D.C. United midfielder Perry Kitchen surprised Brooke with a quick visit at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. The young fan told Kitchen that he shared the same number as her, and was therefore her favorite player on the team.

Thank you to Brooke and all of the D.C. United supporters who made it out to Orlando for the match!

Captain Dwayne De Rosario is ready for the eight-team pre-season tournament.

Midfielder Marcelo Saragosa takes a selfie from the plane, with a photobomb by fellow Brazilian Raphael Augusto.

First round SuperDraft pick and Colorado native Taylor Kemp is excited to escape to warmer climates.

Goalkeeper Bill Hamid made it safe and sound.

Defender Daniel Woolard is ready to train down south.

Defender Ethan White spent time with family before departing again.

Trialist Henry Kalungi is excited for his opportunity in Orlando.

With the news that Homegrown Player Andy Najar has been transferred to R.S.C. Anderlecht, D.C. United players tweeted their well-wishes.

United captain Dwayne De Rosario:

2012 MLS Best XI selection Chris Pontius:

Fellow United Homegrown products Bill Hamid...:

...and Ethan White:

Midfielder Perry Kitchen:

Defender Brandon McDonald:

Defender Dejan Jakovic:

And fellow former MLSer and Anderlecht teammate Sacha Kljestan:

Today, Jeff Carlisle of ESPN.com rated the top 10 U.S. Soccer players under 21 and placed D.C. United midfielder Perry Kitchen at #3 on the list.

Said Carlisle:

Every year in MLS, first-year players hit the dreaded rookie wall, when legs and the mind get heavy thanks to the increased workload of games and travel. According to D.C. United coach Ben Olsen, there has been one exception. “The guy who really didn't go through it was Perry Kitchen,” Olsen said during last year's playoffs. "He went through it for like an hour one day." When Olsen made that statement, Kitchen was well into his second season with the Black-and-Red, but the comment is telling. While the midfielder's skill on the ball, heading ability, and tackling are all excellent, Kitchen's consistency, presence, and leadership are what coaches around MLS talk about most often. It's what allowed him to make the holding midfield spot his own last season, one that looks to remain in his hands for the foreseeable future. Not bad for a guy who is still only 20. “For me, he's been fantastic," Philadelphia Union coach John Hackworth. "As a young player, establishing himself, he's so mature for his age. He's always been that way.”

Kitchen, a 2011 MLS Rookie of the Year runner-up, eluded the rookie wall and experienced no sophomore slump during his first two seasons in the League. In his inaugural MLS campaign, Kitchen became the only first-year player in United history to lead the team in minutes played (2, 726). And in 2012, the University of Akron product came up one minute shy of tying the club’s previous single-season record for minutes (2,805), held by Jeff Agoos in 1996.