Minnesota United's Hassani Dotson reflects on Olympics miss

Minnesota United midfielder Hassani Dotson signed a new contract starting in 2022, but he still can't help but think what might have been.

Particularly as next month's Tokyo Olympics approach.

In March, Dotson and the U.S. Under-23 team came within a game of qualifying for the Olympics for the first time since 2008. But they were denied by a 2-1 loss to Honduras in Guadalajara, Mexico.

"It was a great experience to play with a lot of really good prospects from all sorts of countries," Dotson said. "It's a very sad feeling not to qualify. A couple days, a week after, it sinks in and when the Olympics come, it's going to be hurt even more. That's one of the most difficult parts of this job: How quickly can you be ready to tackle the next obstacle in your path?

"For myself and my career, it's important to be back here and now is the time for me to bounce back."

He and Loons teammate Chase Gasper have been named to U.S. men's national team's preliminary roster for next month's CONCACAF Gold Cup.

"That's my goal," Dotson said about making the senior team. "That obviously is not under my control. There are a lot of talented players in the pool."

Star midfielder Emanuel Reynoso began Saturday night's game at FC Dallas on the sideline as a substitute. He did so even though coach Adrian Heath had said a three-week schedule break allowed Reynoso rest and rehab to get his body in the best shape since he arrived in Minnesota.

Newcomers Adrian Hunou and Franco Fragapane started together for the first time, with veteran Niko Hansen up front with them as well. Dotson started in the central midfield with Jacori Hayes and Wil Trapp. Ozzie Alonso, Ethan Finlay and striker Ramon Abila were subs as well.

Dotson signed that new three-year contract with a team option a week ago. The Loons continue to negotiate new deals with Gasper and goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair, who, like Dotson, all were selected in the 2019 draft.

"It feels good to be valued by the club," said Dotson, a second-round pick. "I'm just excited to see where the season takes us and hopefully we'll win some silverware."

Loons players on Saturday wore jerseys with numbers inspired by Saturday's Juneteenth commemorations around MLS. The bold red, black and green designs were inspired by Black culture and will be auctioned. MLS and the Black Players for Change organization recognized Juneteenth — which remembers the June 19, 1865, date as the end of slavery — with initiatives leaguewide.

Ramsey County held a Juneteenth celebration on Allianz Field's great lawn Saturday afternoon.

Saturday's high temperature in Dallas hit 95. That's the kind of heat in which the Loons trained back home these past weeks.

"You know it's coming and we've been fortunate the weather [in Minnesota] has kind of replicated that," said Hayes, who played two-plus seasons in Dallas. "You know the heat is a definite advantage for them, and they know that."