Washington, D.C. – D.C. United announced today that the club has re-signed midfielder Kurt Morsink and acquired defender Daniel Woolard. Morsink will return to the Black-and-Red in 2011 for his second season with the club, after arriving on March 5, 2010 from Sporting Kansas City (formerly Kansas City Wizards). Woolard comes to Washington having spent a portion of the 2010 preseason on trial with the Black-and-Red. The Texas native has three years of MLS experience with the Chicago Fire and most recently featured for the Carolina Railhawks of the USSF Second Division. Additionally, United has reached an agreement with Pablo Hernandez to release the forward by mutual consent.
“Kurt Morsink came to our club last year and made an impression with his work ethic and scrappy play,” said General Manager Dave Kasper. “He is a solid, hardworking midfielder and we are pleased that he is back with us in 2011.”
Kasper continues, “Daniel Woolard is a player we are familiar with and will provide us with depth in 2011. Like Kurt, Daniel possesses a strong work ethic and we look forward to seeing him in preseason camp.”
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A tenacious player that bolstered United’s central midfield in 2010, Morsink went on to play in 20 League matches (18 starts), and he also started all four of the club’s U.S. Open Cup contests. A native of San Jose, Costa Rica, Morsink was selected by Kansas City with the 42nd pick of the 2007 MLS SuperDraft. In his rookie season the James Madison University product appeared in 21 games (10 starts), playing in all three of the club’s postseason contests. In 2008, Morsink played in 21 matches (13 starts), tallying three assists before missing much of the 2009 campaign through injury.
DANIEL WOOLARD
Woolard was selected 47th overall by the Chicago Fire in the 2007 MLS Supplemental Draft. The defender spent three seasons in Chicago, playing in 16 regular season matches (8 starts), with one goal during that time. In early 2010, Woolard spent a portion of the preseason with D.C. United, playing in a handful of exhibition contests, including the club’s 3-2 victory over Mexican side Santos Laguna on March 10. A product of Midwestern State University, Woolard signed with NASL side Carolina Railhawks in September of 2010.
Name: Daniel Woolard
Position: Defender
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 155
Jersey: TBD
Date of Birth: May 22, 1984
Age: 26
Place of Birth: Bedford, Texas
Citizenship: United States
Last Club: Carolina Railhawks
Acquired: Signed on January 6, 2010
PABLO HERNANDEZ
Pablo Hernandez joined the Black-and-Red on July 1, 2010 from Uruguayan club Defensor Sporting. The Argentine made 14 League appearances (13 starts) in 1,149 minutes of play. Despite his 29 shots and 16 shots on goal during that spell, Hernandez did not register a goal for United.
Said Kasper, “We want to thank Pablo for his time with the club, and we wish him well with his future pursuits.”
