The Philadelphia Union is the surprise team in the Eastern Conference this year. The Union went from 9th place to one of the most feared teams in the league. So how did the squad suddenly find so much success in one offseason? Did Coach Curtin use one winter session to whip his guys into shape, or completely change his tactics? Well the Union is playing much like they did last year, only this year is different. The team looks invigorated, like it knows it is good enough to win most games, whereas last year a draw may have been a good result. The Union only has a handful of new faces this year, and most of them are young guys in their first year. But someone in that group had to have a major influence on the team.

Enter Chris Pontius. The former D.C United winger had a long career (by Union standards) with a D.C team many consider to be the Union’s rival. “I’ve spent 7 years there,” Chris said “I have a lot of love for the club and the guys there. When I made the move I was just looking for a fresh start, something to reenergize me and get me going. Philadelphia has done that and more. The guys welcomed me with open arms and the coaches have been great.” Chris’s move mirrors the change in the table between Philly and D.C. Last year at this point, D.C had 31 goals scored, this year, they have only amassed 20. Meanwhile, the Union has 36 goals this year, scoring only 28 last year by this point. There is no doubt that the 8 goals and 4 assists that Chris produced has vaulted the Union over the playoff line, and into the upper echelon of the Eastern Conference. But Chris doesn’t like to think much about his past. “There is always gonna be stuff about your past,” he said “for me it doesn’t really hurt or help that I’ve come from a rival. It is still strange playing against them at times. But once the whistle blows it’s the same game, you have to push those things aside because there is always going to be distractions, you just have to be focused in the game.”

Chris was quick to start his strong season in Philadelphia. In just his second game with the Union, he scored a brace, on the road (where the Union have struggled this year and historically) against former Eastern Conference champs Columbus Crew. “Those first two against Columbus were special for me,” Chris reflected, “being on the road, and game winners so early in the season meant a lot to me.” Chris didn’t stop there. Since those two left footed goals he has proceeded to put goals in using his left, right and head. “I’ve always been comfortable with both feet,” he recalled. “Growing up I was smaller than the older kids so there had to be something different about me. I didn’t have the speed that they had or the size that they had so I had to develop a left foot. I was then able to shoot with both feet and play on both sides of the ball. Versatility helps you throughout your career and it’s something I developed at a young age.”

Versatility is undoubtedly a huge strength in Chris’s game. Union fans have seen him power dribble at defenders, drawing penalties and creating his own shots. They have also seen him put in savory crosses from wide areas. Just as often, he gets in the box, leaping over defenders to head home crosses himself. So is he a goal scorer, or a goal provider? “I like to do both,” he replied. “My job is just to make life as difficult for defenders as possible. I do this by getting into good spots, and get on the end of crosses or put crosses in the box myself. But over my career, I’ve scored more goals than I’ve created, so I would call myself a goal scorer.” Pontius is leading the Union in goals, even though he is playing as a winger. He just seems has a certain skill for scoring goals. “My biggest strength is scoring goals,” he admitted, “Sometimes you can’t teach getting in the box at the right time and getting on the end of crosses, then putting the ball in the back of the net. You just need to have a knack for it.”

But for Chris and the Union, there is still a long way to go before they can claim 2016 as a successful season. He admits that things aren’t great currently and that, “Just now we’ve hit a rough patch where results haven’t gone our way. The key will be how we respond. We’re a team that hasn’t panicked in any situation. We don’t let the highs get too high, or the lows get too low. Pretty soon the balls will start bouncing our way. We had the same message all year, don’t do anything different from when we’ve had success and things will turn around again.” Though things may be at a trough for the Union and Chris, things are still on the track for the goals he has set out for himself and the team. “Playoffs, that’s always the goal, so were on our way there,” he said. “For me personally, I just wanted to stay healthy throughout the year, so I’ve done that so far. Numbers wise, I’m doing okay. I would like to be in double digits in either category by season’s end.” The way things are going, Chris should hit double digit goals well before the end of the season, and maybe in assists as well.

Before games, Chris says it helps for him to visualize plays to get himself prepared for the game. “I visualize, night before, day of, myself in certain situations and instances. After watching videos of the other team, I like to have an idea of where I can pick up a lot of balls and find success on the field.” Somethings may be hard to predict, but Chris seems to have a good eye for positioning and team play. He is always working hard to track back defensively and help Fabinho on the left. Shortly after gaining possession, however, he is found back upfield pushing the defensive lines and creating space. In a short time Pontius has clicked well with his teammates, a few in particular he finds make him a better player. “A guy like Brian Carroll is always Mr. Reliable. He is always in the right spot. I can always rely on him to be in a position for a 1-2. Tranquillo is another player like that. He’s the link from the midfield to the forwards. When I look up he is always available.”

It’s been a long road for Chris to get where he is now. Along the way he has faced many challenges, and met a lot of helping hands, or feet. “There’s too many to name,” he replied, when asked about those he has admired along the way. “There hasn’t been just one person who has been my mentor in the league. There is a large collective group, filled with different cultures and people who have influenced me along the way.” In this young Union team, however, Chris may be the guy that the kids look up to as a role model. With his industrious career, and this standout season, it’s not hard to see why Chris is one of the most influential players on this team, and also the league.