22-year-old Homegrown product impresses at New York and earns second straight shutout

 Washington, D.C. (March 18, 2013) – D.C. United announced today that goalkeeper Bill Hamid was selected by the North American Soccer Reporters as MLS Player of the Week. Hamid earned the honors after a strong performance and second straight shutout against the New York Red Bulls on Saturday. Hamid was tested often and helped preserve the shutout with an impressive seven saves.

 Hamid’s final save of the game came during stoppage time as he cleared a Brandon Barklage shot off the line with a last-ditch effort to preserve the clean sheet. Hamid, who won Major League Soccer’s Save of the Week in week one, is also leading the League in shutouts (two) and saves (13).

 READ/WATCH: A closer look at Hamid’s impressive day

 The Major League Soccer Player of the Week is selected each week of the MLS regular season by a panel of journalists from The North American Soccer Reporters (NASR). The group consists of members of print, television, radio and online media.

 D.C. United returns to action on Saturday and will look to extend its home undefeated streak to 20 games over the 2012 and 2013 Major League Soccer campaigns.

Kasper: “Woolard’s versatility and experience helps to make our group of defenders among the best in MLS”

 Washington, D.C. (March 18, 2013) – D.C. United announced today that the club has re-signed defender Daniel Woolard. Woolard, a versatile defender who plays both left back and center back for the Black-and-Red, has made one appearance through the 2013 campaign. Per club and League policy, exact terms of the deal were not disclosed.

 "Daniel has been one of our most consistent defenders over the past two years and we are thrilled to have extended his contract to remain at the club,” said D.C. United General Manager Dave Kasper. “His versatility and experience helps to make our group of defenders among the best in MLS."

 Woolard, in his third season with D.C. United, has logged over 4,000 minutes for the club since originally signing on January 6, 2011. The defender has appeared in 47 matches (47 starts) for the Black-and-Red, netting two goals and assisting on two others.

Name: Daniel Woolard

Height: 5' 10"

Weight: 155

Number: 21

Position: Defender

Birthdate: May 22, 1984

Age: 28

Hometown: Bedford , Texas

Previous Club: Carolina Railhawks

Acquired: Re-signed on March 18, 2013

Black-and-Red official mascot, Talon, wins the 2013 FOX 5 Mascot Madness Shootout

Washington D.C. (March 19, 2013) – D.C. United’s official mascot, Talon, today won the annual FOX 5 Mascot Madness Shootout held at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School in Bethesda, Md. The event invites mascots from sports teams in the D.C. Metropolitan Area to compete against each other in a test of basketball skill in honor of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament tipping off this week.

 WATCH: Talon’s exclusive interview with dcunited.com.

 This victory marks the first time in six attempts that Talon – with his 6’6” wingspan and size 22 shoe – captured the Mascot Madness trophy. Talon competed in three different rounds – the first two as sudden-death style – knocking off the George Mason University ’s “Mason” in the first round. In the second round, Talon downed “Slapshot,” the mascot of the Washington Capitals (NHL), advancing to the final to face three-time winner and defending champion “Screech” of the Washington Nationals (MLB). Talon went toe-to-toe with Screech in a two-minute, one-on-one game match, knocking off the defending champion with a lone three-point shot to add a 13th trophy to the D.C. United trophy case.

 Talon will be back at home at RFK Stadium celebrating his victory with the Black-and-Red faithful this weekend when D.C. United hosts the Columbus Crew on Saturday, March 23 at 3:30 p.m. ET (NBC Sports Network).

WATCH: Talon preps at D.C. United’s Official Gym

WATCH: Full clip of the finals vs. “Screech”

Canada to square off against Japan on March 22 and Belarus on March 25

 Washington, D.C. (March 14, 2013) – D.C. United today announced that defender Dejan Jakovic has been named to the 20-player Canada Men’s National Team roster for training camp and two friendlies. Canada will first face Japan on March 22 and then Belarus on March 25, both in Doha , Qatar . The defender will miss the Black-and-Red’s second home match of the season when United plays host to the Columbus Crew on Saturday, March 23 (3:30 ET p.m.; NBC Sports Network).

 Jakovic was most recently called up for two international friendlies in January, featuring in a 4-0 loss to Denmark on Jan. 26 in Tucson, Ariz., and a 0-0 draw with the United States on Jan. 29 in Houston, TX. Jakovic started both games and logged a pair of solid 90-minute performances, which earned him Canada Men’s Soccer Player of the Month for January. Last October, Jakovic was called up for Canada ’s 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Cuba and Honduras , which resulted in a 3-0 win and an 8-1 loss, respectively. Although Jakovic was named to the qualifying roster, he did not feature in either game. In total, Jakovic has appeared in 14 fixtures (13 starts) for the country since 2008.

 Last season, Jakovic became a stalwart in the Black-and-Red back four, playing in 23 games (21 starts) and adding a goal to his name. Jakovic originally signed with D.C. United on Feb. 27, 2009 from Red Star Belgrade ( Serbia ) and has become one of the team’s longest-tenured players – only teammate Chris Pontius has played for the Black-and-Red longer. The defender then signed a new contract in November ahead of the 2013 campaign. Jakovic has started each of D.C. United’s first two regular-season matches of 2013, going 90 minutes in a 2-0 loss to the Houston Dynamo and a 1-0 win over Real Salt Lake .