When it came time for MLS All-Star Game coach Adrian Heath to select 12 players for his league's 26-man roster, he chose two of his own.
Heath chose Minnesota United's star midfielder Emanuel Reynoso and goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair to play against Mexico's LIGA MX all-stars next month at Allianz Field.
It's the first time the Loons have had two players selected for an MLS All-Star Game and the first time one of their players has been named an All Star more than once.
"It's nice to have a couple players in there and they're both worthy of the accolade," Heath said. "Certainly Dayne has been outstanding since he has come into the team and everybody knows my feelings about Rey. He's starting to put some end product to the game we know he has got. Certainly both deserved to be there."
Heath considered adding a third Loon to the 12 players he selected after coach, manager, fan and media voting chose the MLS team's first 12 players. Ultimately, he left attacker Robin Lod off a team heavy with strikers, attackers and designated players.
Lod has shown the last two games he can play central midfield, too, as he did because Kervin Arriaga is injured. "I think he was certainly worthy of the opportunity to be in there," Heath said.
He left open the possibility Lod could be an injury replacement if one of the 26 players chosen between voting, MLS commissioner Don Garber's two picks and his own selections gets hurt between now and the Aug. 10 game.
"Maybe, maybe," Heath said. "I've talked to coaches who have been here before and normally two or three players get injured before the game."
St. Clair becomes an All-Star in a season that began with him backing up starter Tyler Miller. When Miller became ill before the third game way back in March, St. Clair became the starter and has stayed there with his impressive play since then.
"That's what pro sports are all about, taking your opportunity," St. Clair said. "I've also found as quickly as your opportunity can come, it can leave as well. Being on both sides of that has given me a lot of perspective going forward."
Having Heath as the MLS coach relieved some tension whether St. Clair would be picked for his first MLS All-Star Game.
"But with these things, you never know," St. Clair said. "You want to be involved. I'm just grateful and thankful for Adrian to choose me."
St. Clair joins MLS veterans Sean Johnson, a commissioner's pick, and Andre Blake, chosen by the voting, as the MLS team's three goalkeepers.
It's the first of two teams St. Clair intends to make in 2022. He's competing for the third and final keeper spot on Canada's first World Cup team since 1986. It will be held in Qatar starting in November.
"When it comes time for Qatar, I definitely want to be on that team as well," St. Clair said.
Heath's 12 coach's picks include Los Angeles stars Carlos Vela and Chicharito from both LAFC and the Galaxy as well as Seattle's Jordan Morris. He also added defenders Aaron Long from the New York Red Bulls, LAFC's Diego Palacios and Inter Miami's DeAndre Yedlin to add some balance to a roster lopsided with offensive players.
"When I first saw the players who were picked [by the voting], it was very difficult to make a team of it," Heath said, referring to the abundance of forwards, a good number of them highly paid Designated Players.
No player can play more than 45 minutes.
"I know there will be coaches ringing me, saying, 'If my guy gets only 20 minutes, I'll be delighted,' " Heath said. "I'll respect that because we're all in the same boat. ... It'll be nice to work with some of them players who you only try and prepare to play against, to get to know them a little bit. So I'm looking forward to it."
2022 MLS All-Star Roster
Luciano Acosta, Cincinnati
Julian Araujo, L.A. Galaxy
Paul Arriola, FC Dallas
Andre Blake, Philadelphia Union
Alexander Callens, New York City FC
Valentin Castellanos, New York City FC
Sebastian Driussi, Austin FC
Jesus Ferreira, FC Dallas
Taxiarchis Fountas, D.C. United
Carles Gil, New England Revolution
Chicharito, L.A. Galaxy
Sean Johnson, New York City FC
Aaron Long, New York Red Bulls
Kamal Miller, CF Montreal
Jordan Morris, Seattle Sounders FC
Hany Mukhtar, Nashville SC
Darlington Nagbe, Columbus Crew
Diego Palacios, LAFC
Emanuel Reynoso, Loons
Raul Ruidiaz, Seattle Sounders FC
Ilie Sanchez, LAFC
Dayne St. Clair, Loons
Carlos Vela, LAFC
Kai Wagner, Philadelphia Union
DeAndre Yedlin, Inter Miami
Walker Zimmerman, Nashville SC
