How well can you handle rejection? Can you take honest criticism and turn it into another opportunity?

Alex Caskey is making the most of his second stint with Seattle Sounders FC.

The 23-year-old midfielder was drafted by Seattle in 2011 as a third-round pick from Davidson College in North Carolina. After a few weeks Caskey was told by Sounders coach Sigi Schmid that he wasn't ready to help the team yet.

Schmid asked Caskey how serious he was about being a soccer player. Caskey admits the honest message hurt, but decided to prove he was serious enough to make it as a pro. So he played one season for Charleston Battery of the United Soccer League.

"I had to learn the professional speed of play and the physicality," he said after practice this week. "I think spending a year in Charleston and taking a step up from college helped me acclimate to that new level."

The Dunwoody, Ga. native showed off his new found confidence in Sounders reserve matches. Then with injuries to front-line players, Caskey earned his first MLS start against Colorado on April 14. His corner kick cross to Zach Scott's head gave Seattle an important 1-nil home victory.

"It was super exciting to get my first start, especially in front of our home fans, who were incredible," he said. "To make it even better we got the win, so it was really great."

With Seattle entering a grueling stretch of five games in the next two weeks, Caskey will likely see more playing time. He's earned it.

"My goal is to keep playing well and help the team win," he said. "Hopefully with that will come more minutes as I get used to the MLS game."

The Sounders take on the Fire in Chicago Saturday night. The pregame show begins at 5 p.m. Ross Fletcher and Kasey Keller handle play-by-play at 5:30 on 97.3 KIRO FM.

Follow Bill Swartz, 710 ESPN Seattle

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