In his rookie year, defender Todd Dunivant played a key role for the 2003 champion San Jose Earthquakes in the regular season but watched their postseason wins from the bench. This time, the 24-year-old Colorado product has been an integral part of MLS Cup-bound Los Angeles' playoff run.

By Ridge Mahoney, Senior Editor
Soccer America

As the other ex-Earthquake getting ready to play for the Galaxy in MLS Cup 2005 against New England, defender Todd Dunivant doesn't draw nearly as much attention on and off the field as teammate Landon Donovan.

That suits Dunivant just fine. He knows his role is to lock down the left flank and defend staunchly. It's unglamorous, unappreciated work that is absolutely essential and one of the primary reasons the Galaxy has erased a .500 season by rolling through three playoff games.

''For us it's about scoring one goal, it doesn't matter how it happens, and not letting them score,'' says Donovan. ''That's why we're here. It's not because we've been scoring goals, it's because everyone here has taken it upon themselves to defend better.''

The Galaxy back line and midfield has been revamped and juggled numerous times this season. Defenders Tyrone Marshall (Jamaica), Chris Albright (USA), and Michael Umana (Costa Rica) have been called away by their national teams. Rookie Ugo Ihemelu has had more ups than downs while enduring the typical first-year rigors, and Pablo Chinchilla has been drafted when Umana has been unavailable.

ROOKIE FRUSTRATION. The one constant has been Dunivant, who started every regular-season game for the 2003 Quakes but was benched by then-coach Frank Yallop during the playoffs and watched from the sideline as San Jose stormed to the title with a 5-2 win over L.A., a 3-2 semi win over Kansas City and the 4-2 MLS Cup win over Chicago.

''It was frustrating,'' said Dunivant. ''It was great to see the team pull it out but I played all but the last three games. They can't take that away.

''I don't necessarily think it was the wrong decision. I talked to [Coach] Frank [Yallop] about it. It was my rookie season, and in college you play four months out of the year. That was my ninth and 10th month, and mentally and physically, I was done. As a rookie playing every game, that just drained me.

''I was just thinking about that the other day. At this point in my rookie season, playing every game, I was absolute toast. Now I'm feeling great. That's a good sign. Your body gets used to it and you learn how to be a better professional.''

'VERY INTELLIGENT.' Dunivant played midfield at Stanford University, and blessed with a potent left foot and an uncanny ability to lob long throw-ins, he can factor in the attack but leaves most of that to Donovan and forward partner Herculez Gomez. Dunivant racked up 28 assists at Stanford; this year in MLS he assisted twice.

''Todd Dunivant is one of those individuals who doesn't get a lot of credit and he just goes about his business in a very mature, methodical way, whether it be in training or in games,'' says coach Steve Sampson, who acquired Dunivant in a trade after injuries limited him to just 16 games last season in San Jose.

''He's just a quiet confident individual. He has the ability to defend well against different types of players, he has the ability to get forward. Tactically he's still very intelligent, you rarely find him out of position.''

Dunivant became expendable when Wade Barrett, a member of the Quakes from 1998 to 2002, returned to MLS after stints in Denmark and Norway. ''Last year was frustrating for me,'' he says. ''I got hurt, and it was one of those lingering muscle injuries that never seemed to heal. I played the second half of the season but it wasn't the same. This has been a great transition for me, playing every game.''

And while knocking the Quakes out of the playoffs this season atoned for a mediocre Los Angeles showing after the All-Star break, Dunivant says the victory, not the opponent, gave him the greater satisfaction. There's certainly a California clasico rivalry but the Galaxy players knew well that only by reaching MLS Cup could the 2005 season be redeemed, even if they did win the U.S. Open Cup.

Now the Galaxy has a chance to become the third team to do the double, following D.C. United (1996) and Chicago (1998).