The Zac MacMath era appears to have begun sooner than anyone anticipated. 

With Monday’s news that 2011 starting goalkeeper and captain Faryd Mondragón is returning to Deportivo Cali to finish his career where it began, the door has been opened for Philadelphia’s 2011 first-round draft pick (fifth overall).

Fortunately for Philadelphia, MacMath was forced into a starting role for seven starts last season and passed the test with flying colors. That experience, a result of Mondragón’s broken finger, should pay dividends for the Union in 2012.