Itching to play: Amber Brooks can't wait to assert herself in Houston Dash midfield

Amber Brooks is ready to play.

After a year in which she only played 421 minutes for NWSL Shield-winning Seattle Reign FC, Brooks has been itching for consistent gametime. The former North Carolina star may have used a little too much of that pent-up energy in her offseason training.

“I was trying to slide for the ball to get it in the goal,” Brooks told HoustonDashSoccer.com. “My shin just hit the goalpost pretty dang hard.

“I love training, obviously that’s a part of it, but it was frustrating to put in all the training hours—even on my own after training hours—and not be able to play in actual games. That’s kind of why I play and live for. Then you have a long offseason and you play pickup games, but like today I probably take it a little too serious.”

Brooks started in 19 matches for Portland Thorns FC in 2014, her return to the United States after a year in Germany playing for Bayern Munich. As players returned to the lineup for Portland late in the year, however, her playing time dwindled to the point where she was traded to the Western New York Flash in the offseason. Brooks was with the Flash for all of four months during the offseason before being traded to Seattle and their stacked midfield of Kim Little, Jess Fishlock and Keelin Winters.

“I know speaking to her, she’s really excited to come into a team where she can get a chance to come back in and now play, and stop being that trade bait to get moved around a bit,” Dash head coach Randy Waldrum said. “I think she’s going to fit very well with how we want to play.”

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In a midfield stocked with offensive talent such as Carli Lloyd, Morgan Brian and Andressa, Brooks figures to provide the defensive bite behind them to free up their attacking abilities.

“I’m the first line of defense in front of the back line and kind of do the dirty work and get the ball to players like [Lloyd] and Morgan Brian to do the real magic and launch the attack,” Brooks said. “I try to be multi-dimensional and kind of throw off the opposition’s attack but kind of try to jumpstart our attack.”

“She’s good in the air, she’s tough physically, she’s a good ball-winner,” Waldrum said, adding that Brooks is more than just a destroyer in the midfield. “She can distribute short range but she can also service the ball long range; she can hit that ball 40 yards-plus in her distribution to spring forwards.”

Brooks, who played for Waldrum at the U-23 level, was expecting a trade at the end of the season and had interest in the Dash. Former teammates Jessica McDonald (Portland) and Kealia Ohai (North Carolina) had already given her positive reviews.

“When they came up to Seattle I went out with Kealia and Jess afterwards and talked about each of our experiences and where we were at in each of our journeys,” Brooks said. “They’re both very happy in Houston and they both think it’s an environment where they can elevate their game and bring out their best potential.”

For the next few months Brooks will have to be content with offseason training and pickup games, but is working towards grabbing a starting spot with the Dash come April, and playing more games at BBVA Compass Stadium in September.

“Obviously I have to go in and prove my worth and earn a starting spot, but hopefully that takes care of itself. I just really want to help the team win and help the girls make—and host—playoffs and show Houston how far women’s soccer has come.”