During an intra-squad scrimmage at training on Tuesday, New York Red Bulls midfielder Seth Stammler picked up the ball 15 yards out, took a few steps and confidently fired a left-footed shot low past the sprawling 'keeper.
According to the team's media guide, Stammler was "one of the top center backs in the nation" as a senior captain for the University of Maryland. So, it might strike some as odd that a defender could finish a scoring opportunity so well.
However, for Red Bulls fans and observers this season, calling Stammler merely a defender is almost an understatement.
Today, Stammler is now the guy on the wing running up and down the field at a furious pace in head coach Mo Johnston's newly-installed 3-5-2 formation. Not only can he defend, but Stammler is also the team's second leading goal-scorer, finding the back of the net three times. Strong with both feet, he can play almost anywhere on the field.
In the team's game notes, Stammler's position is listed as: defender/midfielder/forward.
Thus, Stammler can fill pretty much any role on the field.
"He's able to get up and down the field, he has a great energy level, great work rate," said Red Bulls midfielder Mar kLisi said. "I think he's better in the 3-5-2 because we need the flank play and he's one of those players who can get it done out there."
The road to the starting 11 was initially not easy for the Gahanna, Ohio, native. After being drafted as the 18th pick in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft, Stammler saw minimal time on the field in his rookie season, as he had suffered an ankle injury that required surgery during preseason. By the time he was fully healthy, the team had been pretty much set and Stammler had to play catch-up with his fitness and game.
"It's tough adjusting to the professional level, but at the same time, they were the first surgeries I ever had in my life, so I didn't know what to expect coming back from them," he said.
After playing only one minute of one game in 2004, Stammler saw more time on the first team in 2005, featuring in 10 games. But, it was not until the end of that season, when, under then-interim coach Johnston, he came on as a substitute in the team's second-to-last game against D.C. United. He helped the side to a 2-1 win by assisting on the eventual game-winner. Stammler then went on to play the full 90 minutes in both of New York's playoff matches against New England.
This season, Stammler has continued his fine form both in practice and during the team's games in; he has filled in wherever needed. For example, when Lisi was injured earlier this year, Stammler was even slotted into the center midfielder's role. And when he was tried out as a forward during preseason, he impressed Johnston.
"He's a good player, you can put him anywhere," Johnston said. "I wish I had more like him because when we played him up front in preseason. He was very good. He scored a few goals."
Over three weeks ago, Stammler tallied a career-high two goals in the Red Bulls' only win of the season, a 5-4 decision over Chivas USA. One of the talking points after that game was the 24-year-old's powerful shot, which he rifled past Chivas goalkeeper Brad Guzan from about 35 yards. Attesting to his versatility, his second goal was a header.
"In training, Mo has always given me the green light to have a shot," said Stammler, who has the hardest shot on the squad, according to many of his teammates. "Occasionally, I might try to shoot from too far, but he's been encouraging in letting me play my game."
Johnston labels Stammler as "hungry" while Lisi notes that his teammate is a great presence in the locker room and a "pleasure to have around."
No matter how you characterize him, it is without a doubt that Stammler will play an important role in the Red Bulls' success in the near future - wherever he is on the field.
