For father of Union golakeeper MacMath, his son's career is a homecoming

Union goalkeeper Zac MacMath has taken the traditional path to soccer, unlike his father. The younger MacMath has been playing the game since he was 4, although for the longest time he was a field player and, apparently, an accomplished one at that.

Compare that to his father, Gary, recruited off the basketball court in gym class at Frankford High by legendary soccer coach Walter Bahr because the program needed a keeper.

So even though Gary has been a longtime resident of St. Petersburg, Fla., his soccer roots were in Philadelphia. And now to have his son as the starting keeper for the Union in his rookie season - while veteran Faryd Mondragon recovers from a fractured finger - has added an unexpected turn, but one for which the elder MacMath warned his son to be prepared.

Thursday against D.C. United was the 20-year-old MacMath's fifth consecutive start. Before Mondragon hurt his finger and was pulled at halftime during a 2-1 loss at Real Salt Lake on Sept. 3, the 40-year-old keeper had played every minute for the Union.

"Zac was reaching the point of the season where he was frustrated by his lack of playing time, but he understood the situation," Gary MacMath said in a phone interview. "I told Zac that he always had to be ready."

That was the mantra his father used to enjoy an outstanding high school and college career. He had never played the sport, but served as the junior varsity keeper his sophomore season at Frankford. Then he was the varsity starter the next two years, and the Pioneers won the city championship each season. In 1967, Frankford beat North Catholic, 1-0, in the city title game. The next year, the Pioneers were 1-0 winners over Cardinal Dougherty.

For someone with limited experience, Gary MacMath made up for lost time. He then earned a scholarship to Penn State, where he ended up a three-year starter on three straight teams that qualified for the NCAA tournament.

MacMath finds it ironic that his son's professional career is beginning in the same area that his soccer career started. He says he has tried to make it up to see the Union once a month, although the trips have been a little more frequent with his son in goal.

"It's been great," MacMath said. "We still have family up there, and that has been a support team for Zac locally, and it has opened up the door for me to get back to Philly."

The Union keeper has enjoyed the support system as well.

"It's been awesome to play in front of family," Zac MacMath said. "My dad grew up here, and it's kind of interesting the way everything has worked out this way."

MacMath was the No. 5 overall selection in Major League Soccer's SuperDraft after his junior year at the University of Maryland. He has also been a member of the U.S. under-20 team, and it's not farfetched to suggest that one day he could be challenging for a spot on the U.S. World Cup squad.

He hopes to compete for a spot in the Olympics next year and says the World Cup is his eventual goal. But for now, his thoughts are only on the next MLS game.

Nobody knows how long he will be in goal. Union team manager Peter Nowak said Mondragon would be reexamined next week, and the team should have a better idea of his status. For now, MacMath is the player continuing a pretty good local soccer story.