Ten Best: Metro defenders
August 5, 2006
If Metro was blessed in one area on the field throughout its history, it was in goal. Tony Meola, Mike Ammann, Tim Howard, Jonny Walker, and Meola again were some of the best in their position in MLS, and even their backups could hold their own. The same could not be said about Metro defenders, as they were often the reason those goalkeepers would face a barrage of shots, forcing them to lead the league in saves year after year. Nevertheless, there were some quality defenders to play for Metro over the past 11 years...
10) Nicola Caricola, 1996
Own goals notwithstanding... And we know that's hard, but in the inaugural season, the sweeper ran the transition game like no other in Metro history and also scored a memorable long bomb against Columbus.
9) Carlos Mendes, 2005-
Undrafted, he toiled a few seasons in the USL. After getting the call in 2005, Mendes quietly turned into a solid contributor in the middle of the backline.
8) Diego Sonora, 1998
Probably Metros' most consistent player during the 1998 season, Sonora played right back as well as right midfield, and finished the year with three goals and seven assists.
7) Mark Semioli, 1997-2001
Always solid, never spectacular, the defender-turned-lawyer has a solid Metro career that spanned five seasons. Together with Rhett Harty, was at the front of the MLS player lawsuit.
6) Daniel Hernandez, 2000-02
The Petke-Hernandez-Jolley backline of early 2000 still stands out when one talks of Metro years past. Unfortunately for Hernandez, his 2000 was ended early with an injury, and the rest of his Metro career was spent mostly in midfield.
5) Steve Jolley, 2000-03, 2006-
He would be ranked much higher if not for the decline that followed a terrific start to his Metro career. Jolley played every minute of every match in 2000 and 2001. Sadly, by 2003, he was not the same player; on his return this year, he has been serviceable, if not sturdy. A solid target on set pieces, Jolley has scored more goals, eight, than any other defender in Metro history.
4) Jeff Parke, 2004-
When he was drafted with the last pick of the 2004 SuperDraft, little did we know what we were getting. He burst out on the scene with a terrific rookie campaign, and after a slump in 2005, has been back in force this year.
3) Rhett Harty, 1996-98
Forever a fan favorite, Mr. Clean's shaved head started the mid-season revival in 1996. Strong the next year as well, his career was cut short by an injury in 1998, and he was out of the league a year later after being blacklisted for his role in the MLS player lawsuit failing to agree to terms with the league.
2) Eddie Pope, 2003-04
The greatest season for a Metro defender was Pope's in 2003, when he anchored a young defense and helped the Metros in the Open Cup run with two vital goals in a comeback win in Columbus. Unfortunately, his 2004 was really below par, preventing Pope from taking the top spot on this list.
1) Mike Petke, 1998-2002
So the top spot goes to Petke, even now a favorite of so many fans. Dye job or not, he was the one constant in the Metro backline for six years, and is the team's all-time leader in minutes and games played. And of course, we will always remember him for the Revenge is Coming t-shirt, which he revealed after a scoring a goal in the game following the Mamadou Diallo - Mike Ammann incident.
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