The Montreal Impact will play its first MLS game at the Big O on March 17. On Tuesday, MLS announced the 2012 home-opener dates for all 19 of its teams. And the expansion Impact will open on St. Patrick’s Day against a yet-to-be-determined opponent.

The Montreal Impact has added two veteran presences to the roster, and has created what should be a heck of an interesting competition for the No. 1 keeper’s job.

Until Sunday, the Galaxy had been the team that couldn’t win when it mattered. But then a trio of Designated Players combined to give Los Angeles the goal that ended years of frustration.

His teammate, David Beckham, was named MLS Comeback Player of the Year on Monday; but you could make an argument that it should have been Dunivant, not Becks, who should have got that nod. At 30, Dunivant had his best-ever season in Los Angeles, playing in 33 of 34 games with one of the stingiest defences in North American soccer.

The scene: The 2009 MLS Superdraft. With the second pick, Toronto FC chose midfielder Sam Cronin, passing up on University of Maryland defender Omar Gonzalez, who the Los Angeles Galaxy took with the third pick. On Wednesday, Gonzalez became the youngest player, at 23, to ever be named MLS Defender of the Year.

Toronto FC will face the Los Angeles Galaxy in its CONCACAF Champions League quarter-final. The two teams were matched together during Tuesday’s quarter-final draw at CONCACAF headquarters in New York.

Hainault, who was not invited to the Canadian national team camp for next week’s two upcoming World Cup qualifiers against St. Kitts and Nevis, scored the opening goal as the Dynamo beat Sporting Kansas City 2-0 in the Eastern Conference Final.

But, we need to look at the Galaxy in a truly North American sports context — after all, MLS is a North American league — where regular-season success means very little compared to playoff excellence. The Galaxy, until it wins MLS Cup, has to be compared to the likes of the San Jose Sharks or San Diego Chargers, talented teams who consistently lose when it counts.

"We're looking at both options," said Cochrane. "The challenges here (at BMO Field) are obvious. The field is the least of our worries. We can get the field up and running and ready to play and be in great shape. It's all the other stuff in and around — the stands, making sure they're safe, plumbing, restrooms, amenities.

Hainault’s goal was the highlight of a day filled with MLS playoffs incidents that would turn the heads of Canadian soccer fans.