Former UNLV midfielders DeLeon, Cruz in key roles for surging MLS franchise

When Danny Cruz was traded to D.C. United by the Houston Dynamo on Jan. 20, it was a homecoming of sorts for the Virginia-born midfielder. But when Cruz looked at United's roster and saw Nick DeLeon's name, he really got excited.

The midfielders played at UNLV in 2008 under coach Mario Sanchez before Cruz turned pro after two seasons with the Rebels. DeLeon also played two years at UNLV, but opted to follow Sanchez to Louisville after his sophomore season in 2009 when Sanchez joined the Cardinals' staff.

Alongside each other again, Cruz, 22, and DeLeon, 21, have helped D.C. United to a fast start in the Major League Soccer season. United (2-2-3) is unbeaten in its past five matches and third in the Eastern Conference with nine points. DeLeon has two goals and three assists, and Cruz has a goal and an assist going into an ESPN2-televised match against the New York Red Bulls at 3 p.m. today at RFK Stadium.

"It's no different from when we were at UNLV," Cruz said. "It's surreal that two guys can play in a club tournament five or six years ago and are back together playing in the pros."

DeLeon, the first-round draft pick of United and the seventh player taken overall in this year's MLS Super Draft, also is Cruz's roommate. He said having a familiar face around is helping to ease his transition to the pro game.

"At this level, it's decisiveness," said DeLeon, whose father, Leroy, played professionally in the old North American Soccer League in Washington for the Darts, and later, the Diplomats. "You have to make quick decisions. But having Danny on the field really helps. He's got the experience, and he gives great advice.

"We're both hard workers, and I know his strengths, and he knows mine. It's great having him as a teammate again."

Credit United coach Ben Olsen for having the foresight to play Cruz and DeLeon together. Developing chemistry can be difficult, but it greatly helps when a coach has players who know each other and can play together while integrating their skill sets with the rest of their teammates.

"He's a great coach," DeLeon said of Olsen, a former U.S. national team player who played in MLS from 1998 to 2009. "He understands what a player goes through. He has a lot of structure in his system, but within that structure, he gives you freedom to create."

Cruz and DeLeon give Sanchez, their former college coach, the bulk of the credit for being where they are today.

"Mario was like a second father to me," Cruz said. "He really understands the game and, when he recruited me, it was with the idea of being part of turning UNLV around.

"I thought when I played on the Under-17 (national team) I could one day play professionally. And when I made the decision to go pro after my sophomore year at UNLV, Mario understood. He never pressured me into staying, and I will always respect him for that."

DeLeon said he would have remained a Rebel if Sanchez had stayed at UNLV instead of leaving for Louisville. But he respected Sanchez so much, DeLeon decided to go with him.

"He had been my regional coach in Arizona, so I've known him a long time," DeLeon said. "He convinced me that UNLV was a program that was on the rise, and it was a chance to be part of the turnaround.

"I loved my two years at UNLV. It really helped me get to where I am today."

Sanchez said he knew early that both players had the talent to play in MLS.

"They're very different players, but they're also very similar," said Sanchez, Louisville's associate head coach. "Danny is high energy, high work ethic. His desire to succeed is tremendous. Nick has the uncanny ability to change the game, not just with his physical ability but with his mind. He really understands the game, having been around it his whole life.

"Where they are similar is that they're both great athletes. They have natural talent, and they're both really competitive. That's what I was looking for when I recruited them to UNLV. We were trying to turn it around there, and those two had the skills we needed to get the program headed in the right direction."

On Wednesday, they met up with another former UNLV teammate, Lamar Neagle, who had an assist for Montreal in the Impact's 1-1 tie with D.C. United. Neagle and DeLeon went head to head for most of the match.

With UNLV well represented in MLS, Cruz and DeLeon are enjoying their dream of being paid to play the game they love while being together again on the field.

"My parents both played and now I can relate to what they did," DeLeon said.

Cruz said, "I feel so blessed (to be in MLS). When I look back on my decision to leave UNLV, I know now I did the right thing, as tough as it was to leave."

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.