“It’s a good little problem we have,” Olsen said. “They are both capable.”

Barring injury and possible U.S. national team assignments, Hamid will probably start most, if not all, regular season matches. But the second-choice keeper will inevitably get onto the field, for league games and probably U.S. Open Cup tests. The third man is likely to see time with Loudoun United, D.C.'s second-division team.

AD

AD

Asked who had the advantage midway through training camp, Olsen said: “Oh, that’s up in the air. We know what Chris is about; he’s been around long enough that we know his qualities. Earl doesn’t have as many games as Seitz — and he needs games — but he is also a young goalkeeper with potential to be a starter in this league.”

Seitz, who starred at the University of Maryland, has made 102 starts for Real Salt Lake, Philadelphia, Dallas and Houston. Edwards, a former UCLA standout, started six matches the past two seasons for Orlando, but also received 25 assignments overall with Orlando’s second-division squad.

This preseason, Hamid started each of the first two friendlies, yielding at halftime to Edwards in the opener against Bethlehem Steel and to Seitz against FC Cincinnati.

AD

Olsen will probably divide playing time in the next two friendlies, as well — Saturday against the Tampa Bay Rowdies and next Wednesday against the Philadelphia Union — before giving Hamid all 90 minutes in the preseason finale Feb. 23 against the Montreal Impact.

AD

Last year, after Hamid returned from a brief move to Denmark, the hierarchy was clearly defined: Hamid, David Ousted and Travis Worra. United subsequently released Worra and waived Ousted (17 starts in 2018).

Unable to trade Ousted, United bought out much of his $390,000 guaranteed contract. His new team, the Chicago Fire, is on the hook for $150,000.

>> One of Olsen’s points of emphasis in preseason has been playing the ball out of the back. But quick attacks from midfield, improvisation and direct play will remain in the playbook.

AD

“This is not the first time we’ve worked on building out of the back, but we’re looking to be a touch more adventurous in the way we build the game,” he said. “That’s all nice and pretty, and you can draw it up on paper, but it’s still a game of adapting, when to build and when to go more direct.

AD

“It’s good to have this foundation of how we can play against teams that are a little more low pressure and manipulate them in order to get us in better spots to create chances. There will be games where we won’t rely on that stuff, where we adapt and roll up our sleeves and figure out ways to win games.”

>> Academy players Griffin Yow and Bryang Kayo will accompany the delegation to Florida on Wednesday for the second phase of training camp in Clearwater.

AD

Both remain on the radar for possible homegrown contract offers, but at the moment, Olsen is happy to expose them to extended opportunities with the first team.

“They are doing well. It’s a great experience for them,” Olsen said. “These camps are long, the intensity is high and training sessions keep coming. They have been able to hang in there, and technically they are very good young players. They aren’t out of their league physically or with some of the tactical issues and focus; that’s why it’s so great to see them with us.”

AD

Whether or not they sign homegrown contracts, both are likely to play for Loudoun United this year.

>> Loudoun signed its first two players Tuesday: goalkeeper Calle Brown and Salvadoran midfielder Omar Campos.

AD

Brown, 26, is from Loudoun County High School in Leesburg, the city where the new team will eventually play home games. He won an NCAA championship in 2014 with the University of Virginia.

After beginning his pro career with the USL’s Pittsburgh Riverhounds, the 6-foot-5 keeper signed with MLS teams (Houston and Seattle) and went on loan to their respective USL squads (Rio Grande Valley and Seattle Sounders 2). Last year, he started 21 matches for Seattle’s second squad.

Campos, 18, is a member of El Salvador’s under-20 national team and played for CD Dragon.

Loudoun, which began workouts Tuesday at the RFK Stadium grounds, is in the process of finalizing several other signings, including attacker Shinya Kadono, a D.C. third-round draft pick from California-Berkeley; Kyle Murphy, a former USL San Antonio forward; three other Latin American imports (Costa Rica, Honduras, Argentina); and additional USL-experienced players.

AD

AD

D.C. homegrown midfielder Antonio Bustamante, who signed an MLS contract, will begin his career on loan with Loudoun, which will debut March 9 at Nashville.

The home opener is May 3 against Bethlehem Steel at a venue to be determined. A 5,000-seat stadium near the Leesburg airport will open in August. Until then, Loudoun will play five home matches at secondary locations. Initially, the team was going to have to play six, but one match in May is going to be moved to late in the season.

Audi Field and George Mason University are top candidates, though the D.C. organization and GMU are apparently far apart on financial terms. The sides were slated to speak again Tuesday.