CHESTER, Pa. -- It's been a productive week for Chris Pontius.
Prior to getting engaged Sunday, the Union attacker notched a key assist in Saturday's win against his former club, D.C. United. He followed that up Wednesday with two primary helpers in a 2-0 win over the Houston Dynamo at Talen Energy Stadium.
"You can't write it up any better," Pontius said. "Things came pretty fast. Very, very happy right now."
Although Pontius is happy about his production, it's not expected. With a pair of assists Wednesday - a cross-box loft for the Fafa Picault header and centering drive for Ilsinho's first of the season, the adept goalscorer, who led the Union with 12 goals in 2016, tied his career high in assists with six on the season. It also ties him with Alex for second in MLS in assists.
"Chris has always just been a solid, all-around soccer player," Union manager Jim Curtin said. "He has a knack in front of the goal, whether it's to get goals or assists."
So what changed for Pontius? He switched positions. Pontius had no goals and one assist in six games from the left side of the Union's attack. But after moving to the right against the Montreal Impact on April 22, he still has no goals but the veteran has cashed in five assists in his last five games.
"I think last year, whether it was Ilsinho or [Fabian] Herbers out on the right and dishing, we tend to find a little more space out wide," Pontius said. "The guys on the left or the center are going to be the finishers. I'm happy being the provider."
Over that span, the Union are 3-0-2 and have outscored their opposition, 12-3. They are riding three-consecutive wins, which they've only done twice before in team history and have four-straight shutouts, a club record.
"He had a slow start to the year statistically but still was doing the work," Curtin said. "Now you're starting to see balls bounce his way. He made some really good decisive final passes tonight, he also did that against D.C. He's confident now, a guy you can lean on and trust because he's been through the battles. He's playing very well right now, and happy with how he's performing."
Regardless of how it happens, Pontius is enjoying the success.
"There's no better feeling than what we're going through right now," he said. "After a rough start, we've posted four shutouts in a row, three wins in a row and we have another home game this weekend, so it's a good feeling right now. We've turned things around pretty quickly."
