New York City FC goalkeeper Josh Saunders has been named the Etihad Airways Player of the Month for March.
New York City FC goalkeeper Josh Saunders has been named the Etihad Airways Player of the Month for March.
The 34-year-old Major League Soccer veteran played an integral role in the Club's first month of existence. Saunders had 11 saves, with a season-high seven on March 21 at Colorado, as New York City FC registered consecutive shutouts, including their first-ever victory on March 15 against New England.
"Josh has been huge," head coach Jason Kreis said after the scoreless draw against the Rapids. "This is three games in a row he's been huge. You need players to step up and have big performances if you want to get results. He was a big factor in this one today, no doubt."
Saunders, who now has 22 shutouts in his MLS career, has been nominated for MLS Save of the Week three times already this season.
"I just try to play part of the defense, stay connected and do my job," he said. "I’m just doing what I can."
Also nominated for the Etihad Airways Player of the Month were forward David Villa and midfielder Mix Diskerud.
PROFILE of Josh Saunders
Acquired: Signed on July 10, 2014
CAREER
2014: Loaned to San Antonio Scorpions (NASL). Helped lead team to its first-ever NASL title in November.
2013: Signed with Real Salt Lake in February and appeared in three MLS games before tearing his ACL on a goal kick on July 13 (a game in which he was credited with the win). Missed the remainder of the season.
2012: Helped lead LA Galaxy to second straight MLS Cup title. Started 27 regular-season matches for the Galaxy, posting a record of 16-7-4. Finished season with 36 goals allowed (1.33 goals against average) and nine clean sheets during the regular season. Started all six of L.A.’s playoff games, notching one shutout, making 18 saves and allowing six goals.
2011: Started 18 regular-season games for the injured Donovan Ricketts, going 12-2-4 with eight clean sheets. Allowed 17 goals in his 19 total league regular-season appearances (0.89 goals against average). Started all four of the Galaxy’s playoff matches, registering two shutouts, making 11 saves and giving up just two goals en route to L.A.’s MLS Cup championship. Started all six of the Galaxy’s games in the CONCACAF Champions League.
2010: Appeared in four games in all competitions, including one MLS game. Kept a clean sheet in scoreless draw with Toronto FC on May 15, which extended his run of not allowing a goal in MLS regular season play to 342 minutes. Played in both of the Galaxy’s Open Cup games, keeping a clean sheet in the 2-0 win over AC St. Louis in the third round and making five saves in the 2-0 loss at Seattle in the quarterfinals.
2009: Set new MLS career highs across the board, appearing in six regular-season games (four starts) for the Galaxy, with a 1.08 goals against average. Made three saves in 120 minutes of action against the Rapids in a U.S. Open Cup Play-In Game on 7 for his first clean sheet as a member of the Galaxy.
2008: Signed with Miami FC (NASL) on April 11. Made 27 appearances with 13 clean sheets before being loaned out to LA Galaxy. Joined club Sept. 13 and made his debut on Oct. 2 in a 1-0 loss at Columbus. Finished with a 1-2-0 record and a 2.00 goals against average.
2007: Spent season with the Puerto Rico Islanders (NASL), appearing in 22 regular season games and keeping six cleans sheets while helping the Islanders reach the postseason for the second straight season. Led Puerto Rico to the first playoff series win in club history, keeping a clean sheet against Montreal at home to preserve a 5-3 aggregate victory. Made 71 saves and allowed just 26 goals in his 22 games with the club.
2006: Played in 22 games in his fourth and final season with the Portland Timbers. Tallied a 1.49 GAA with a 5-11-5 record and four clean sheets.
2005: Started all 28 games on the season for Portland, collecting a 10-9-9 record with six clean sheets and a 1.50 GAA while leading his team to the first round of the USL Playoffs.
2004: Played in 24 games for Portland, compiling a 16-5-2 record with six clean sheets and a 1.11 goals against average. Helped lead the Timbers to the postseason.
2003: On loan from San Jose, appeared in 16 games for the Timbers, allowing 15 goals for a 0.90 GAA. He went 10-4 2 in his time with the club, keeping six clean sheets. Selected 36th overall (fourth round) of the MLS SuperDraft by San Jose.
INTERNATIONAL
Has two caps for the Puerto Rico National Team. Played full 90 minutes in a pair of shutout wins over Bermuda in January 2008. Made eight saves in the two matches, which were the first back-to-back wins for Puerto Rico since 1993.
COLLEGE
Split his career between Cal State-Fullerton and the University of California, spending his first two years at Fullerton before transferring north to Berkeley. Two-year starter at Cal, earning First Team All-Pac 10 honors in each of his seasons with the Bears. As a senior in 2002, named the Pac 10 Player of the Year, becoming the first goalkeeper ever to win that award.
HONORS
MLS Cup (4): 2003, 2011, 2012
MLS Supporters' Shield (2): 2010, 2011
MLS Western Conference Championship (5): 2003, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013
USL Commissioner's Cup (1): 2004
