In 2004, his rookie season, Seth Stammler played a solitary minute in league play. It came in a game against Los Angeles, when Metro fielded the youngest team in league history. But back then, Stammler could not even break into that lineup.

Seth Stammler leaves Metro third all-time in games played and games started, and fourth all-time in minutes. (Limit it to regular season games only, and he's second, second, and third across the categories.) Back in 2004, who would have thunk it?

And how Stammler climbed up the charts is rather amazing. Left back? Check. Center back? Check. Right back? Check. Left midfield, right midfield, defensive midfield, central midfield, attacking midfield? Check, check, check -- and how!, check, check. The only two positions he hadn't played? Goalkeeper, obviously, and forward -- but he did line up up front during the 2006 preseason.

Pretty impressive, when you get down to it. For past six years, Stammler has been Metro's plug-in fixer, always ready to do what was asked for him, always steady, even in a previously-unfamiliar position.

What will we remember most? The playoff game in 2005, when Mo Johnston put Stammler on the left wing -- a position he never played before, and he proceeded to shut down New England's Steve Ralston. The out-of-nowhere two-goal game against Chivas USA in 2006. The rocket that beat the same Goats this year. The constant hard work that he put in day in and day out.

Seth Stammler retired in mid-season, going off to grad school while remaining available if the team needed him. But it always looked like Stammler had more on his mind than just being a soccer player. His last MLS acclaim came last week, as he was named the league's Humanitarian of the Year for his charitable work in Haiti. We aren't doubting that he will continue to do amazing work full-time, now that his soccer career is over.

Thank you, Seth Stammler. We're sure others -- outside of Metro, outside of soccer -- will thank you as well.