But relief from United's injury epidemic remains elusive -- and it's no coincidence that the squad's long-standing search for consistency continues as well.
Star playmaker Marcelo Gallardo's road back from sports hernia surgery has proved much longer than anticipated, while fellow Argentinean Gonzalo Peralta lasted just one game in his return from the same procedure before sustaining a hamstring strain. A designated player intended to be the fulcrum of the D.C. attack, Gallardo's absence has been particularly frustrating for all involved and while he has declined to discuss his situation with the media, his teammates recognize the predicament.
"You know, when you're injured and you don't get better after the surgery, it's very disappointing and I'm sure he is feeling that way," said team captain Jaime Moreno. "He is very disappointed, but you've got to do what you've got to do and for his part, I'm sure he is doing his best to try and recover as quickly as possible."
Striker Francis Doe would offer Soehn a valuable option up front, but his foot infection -- thought to have been tamed a month ago -- refuses to heal. The same goes for utility man Dominic Mediate, who continues to grapple with troubling after-effects from his concussion. The situation recently began to border on absurdity when goalkeeper Zach Wells added a particularly obscure condition to the list of ailments facing team trainer Brian Goodstein: sesmoiditis, an inflammation of small bones at the base of the big toe.
"It's always frustrating when you're missing guys, because you know you're not at top strength," said Soehn. "But unfortunately that's part of sports, so we have to deal with it."
Matters got worse in New England on Wednesday when midfielder Fred, lately showing promising signs of a return to top form, became the latest to fall prey to the hamstring bug. The new responsibilities of fatherhood -- a "change of life," as Soehn called it -- hampered his play earlier this summer. But the Brazilian has lately been one of United's more dynamic attacking forces and the team has been rocked by the latest prognosis on his injury -- he faces up to a month on the sidelines.
So this weekend's tilt with Colorado is likely to bring a return to a more defensive-minded lineup like the one Soehn used to good effect against Kansas City on August 2, with Joe Vide joining Clyde Simms as anchors in the middle of the park while Santino Quaranta and Ivan Guerrero work as two-way players along the flanks. The back line will have to be reconfigured again thanks to Marc Burch's suspension for yellow-card accumulation, though Gonzalo Martinez will return after missing the New England clash for the same reason.
All of this adds up to a pivotal role, and added pressure, for the club's newest face. Crayton might still be acclimating to life in the nation's capital, but he's already jumped straight into a starter's role in his first two matches and he'll need to be in top form as D.C. try to progress in the crowded Eastern Conference despite their shorthandedness. It's the reason United's search for a veteran netminder took months, and the 30-year-old's background in the Swiss league suggests that he's well-equipped for the challenge.
"As a professional you always have to be prepared, that is your job," said Crayton, discussing his immediate insertion in the D.C. first XI. "Being with Basel for three seasons as a backup 'keeper, this was something that I always had to deal with, being prepared mentally and physically, so it was nothing strange for me."
Crayton began his pro career as a teenager with a small Liberian outfit, then moved on to Switzerland's biggest clubs and with a bevy of international caps for his homeland's national team, he's performed in plenty of pressure-packed situations. His work in goal was a key element of Liberia's Cinderella run in 2002 World Cup qualifying, which saw the Lone Stars come agonizingly close to reaching soccer's biggest stage only to fall a point short of regional power Nigeria on the final day of group play.
The leader and financial underwriter of that effort was George Weah, one of the world's greatest players of the past two decades, and Crayton shares many fond memories with his legendary teammate, including a 2001 appearance at Giants Stadium against Colombia.
But despite the fact that he's just been selected for Liberia's latest squad, Crayton says his international career is done for now, and after years as a backup with Basel, he's eager to take a central role in United's playoff push.
"I was fed up with that condition," he said of his role with his previous club," and I felt that there was another step forward in my career, and I was willing to take the opportunity."
He's also well aware that the Black-and-Red have little margin for error in the weeks to come.
"Right now we cannot afford to lose any more games," he said.
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