FRISCO - It was the homegrown kid who lived out a dream during FC Dallas' 2-1 win over Sporting Kansas City.
Midfielder Victor Ulloa donned the captain's armband during Sunday's game taking over for the injured Matt Hedges. For the 24-year-old Dallas native who grew his career with the FC Dallas Youth Academy, it was a dream come true.
"I'm grateful for the opportunity and [it represents] the confidence the coaching staff and the players have in me," Ulloa said. "I'm just so grateful, I'm speechless to how I'm feeling right now."
It was an honor that was bestowed upon Ulloa before. During his younger years with the youth academy, the midfielder sported the captain's armband and also developed his leadership role throughout those years.
Taking that experience into consideration, it was an easy decision for head coach Oscar Pareja to give his young midfielder the skipper's role.
"[It was] very familiar to see [Ulloa] with the armband," Pareja, who also served as the Director of Player Development with the FC Dallas Youth Academy from 2008-2011, said. "In the locker room it's the same because his leadership has grown tremendously. I'm proud to see him grow that much."
Ulloa's leadership was going to be needed leading up to Sunday's game. FCD was going up against one of the top teams in the Western Conference and missing services from Mauro Diaz, Carlos Gruezo and Hedges.
It didn't get any easier once Kansas City struck first. But despite those setbacks, Ulloa and the team stuck together and pulled out the three points in front of the home crowd.
"I think we came out a little flat [in the opening minutes]," the midfielder said. "Then once we got that off of our backs, we started really attacking them and had them on their heels. It wasn't the prettiest of games, but in the end we got the result so that's all that matters."
After completing a stretch of three games in eight days, Ulloa said the team is focused on recovering before entering a stretch of three straight road games starting with the Vancouver Whitecaps FC next Saturday.
"I think it's important for us to get our energy back," Ulloa said. "And then here we go, another battle in Vancouver, so hopefully we get another three points."