Red Bulls goalkeeper Jon Conway: "Just playing on a regular basis is something I've been striving to do." Photo by Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images
By Michael Lewis
BigAppleSoccer.com Editor
East Rutherford, N.J. -- For most of his seven-year MLS career, Jon Conway has sat the bench as a spectator, watching some of the best in the game.
In San Jose, Conway played second fiddle to a pair of goalkeepers considered to be the league's best -- first Joe Cannon and then Pat Onstad.
For the first part of this season, it was former U.S. World Cup keeper Tony Meola who backstopped the Red Bulls before injuries got the best of him.
When Conway finally got an opportunity, he didn't disappoint. Only a half hour prior to the home match with the Chicago Fire, Meola strained his left calf in warm-ups. Conway stepped in and was outstanding in a 1-1 tie.
"Just playing on a regular basis is something I've been striving to do," Conway said earlier this week after practice at Giants Stadium. "It's been unfortunate in the situations I've been in. Now the situation has come where I've been able to get some games. And it’s been great. Obviously, you want to play in the big games, you want to be in the starting 11 every week.
"Now it’s my chance to do that."
It took a while for him to secure the No. 1 spot. But the numbers are difficult to argue against and don't lie.
Entering Saturday's showdown with the Kansas City Wizards at Giants Stadium, Conway finds himself as the leading goalkeeper in the league.
Granted, he hasn't played as much as his rivals. But his 990 minutes makes him eligible for the ranking. Conway has a 0.91 goals-against average and a 6-2-3 record with five shutouts (In contrast, Meola has a 1.45 GAA -- good for 13th -- and a 2-9-9 mark).
Barring a blowout by the Wizards, Conway should become the second player in club history to claim the MLS goalkeeping title statistically.
Conway, of course, would rather win, 5-4, and have the Red Bulls clinch the fourth and final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference.
"We've been improving over the last four or five games," he said. "That makes a huge difference. Our confidence has been growing."
So has Conway's confidence.
The worst thing a goalkeeper wants to do is become a career backup. He certainly doesn't want to get behind an experienced goalkeeper who plays consistently and doesn't get injured. The No. 2 man might have potential and talent, but never gets an opportunity to show it.
That happened to Zach Thornton when he was a member of the MetroStars from 1996-97 before the Chicago Fire plucked him in the 1998 expansion draft. Thornton helped the Fire to the MLS Cup crown in its maiden season and has been a fixture in the Windy City for many years.
"He's obviously made progress," goalkeeping coach Des McAleenan said. "Just his record speaks for itself. His record is among the best of keepers. I don't know if he's proved anything to himself, but probably some of the people in the league, some doubters.
"After a while after you've spent such a long time with that label, I think it sometimes it sticks. Some people never shook it off. They got opportunities but didn't take them, guys like Paul Grafer."
Let's put things into perspective.
The 6-6, 215-lb. Conway was selected out of Rutgers by the San Jose Earthquakes in the third round of the 2000 SuperDraft. He has persevered, given the limited playing time the Aston, Pa. native has received. Entering this season, Conway had participated in 18 MLS regular-season matches and compiled a mediocre 1.51 GAA and a 4-10-3 mark. He didn't see a minute of action with the Quakes last season.
But he received a new lease on life when he was traded to the Metros (who were since renamed the Red Bulls) in December for the team's fourth round choice in the 2006 draft.
Early on this season, Meola kept the Red Bulls in matches, facing a ridiculous amount of shots and making a ton of saves.
But injuries and perhaps age caught up to Meola, who hasn't been the same after returning from a bout with lymphangitis, a serious and potentially fatal bacterial infection, in August.
It took a while, but Arena eventually has turned to the 29-year-old Conway, even though he coached Meola at the University of Virginia and picked the Kearny, N.J. native as his third keeper on the 2002 World Cup team. Earlier this year, he gave Meola an opportunity to play in his 100 international match against Jamaica.
Earlier this season, the local media talked about a potential goalkeeping controversy. But it has been difficult to argue with Conway's performances and gaudy numbers.
"He makes the big saves," Arena said. "He's got the lowest goals against average in the league and he's got the best record for a goalkeeper in the league. What more can you say?"
Asked what he has been impressed with most about Conway, Arena replied, "I just think he has made the saves. . . . Half the games he's played in have been shutouts. What more can you say? Obviously, we have played better with him in the goal. It might be circumstances that have allowed that to happen. What more can you say at this point? Give him credit. Saturday in Colorado he had to make a bunch of big saves."
Indeed.
Conway preserved the Red Bulls' 1-1 draw last Saturday. Three saves stood out in the final 15 minutes.
He managed to get a hand on Jacob Peterson's indirect free kick inside the penalty area in the 77th minute.
"If I didn't touch that, it's going into the back of the net," Conway told MSG. "You're the kamikaze and you've got to come up big."
Conway came through again in the 87th minute, denying Aitor Karanka and then Melvin Tarpley from point-blank range from eight yards two minutes into stoppage time.
While a loss still would have left the club in the same challenge -- a must-win vs. K.C. -- a tie certainly helped the team's state of mind entering the regular-season finale.
Left fullback Todd Dunivant, recovering from a quad injury, watched the game from the bench in Denver and enjoyed the show.
"He's done a great job," he said. "He keeps everyone calm in front of him. At the same time, he directs the back line and lets everyone know where they need to be. He obviously he is a big guy and he comes out and makes big saves for you when you need them. That's what you've got to have out of our goalie. We saw it against Colorado. They had that opportunity right at the end. He comes out and he's big and he snuffs it out. That's what you need as a defender once in a while. The goalie has to bail you out."
Added central defender Carlos Mendes: "He's been solid all year. Every time he has been called on, even throughout the year when he was backing up Tony, he came in and did a good job. He's a good goalkeeper. Obviously, we have a lot of confidence in him. He's been doing it all year."
Since allowing four goals in his first win of the season against Chivas USA on May 20, Conway has surrendered but five goals in nine games and registered five shutouts.
Conway said his performance has been "pretty good. The goals that I have given up, I think I'd like to have one or two back. In that regard, it's pretty good. I haven't given up too many, which is kind of nice. Hopefully I can keep that going."
As for leading the league in goalkeeping, Conway certainly didn't mind.
"Nice," he said. "I haven't play as many games probably as the other guys, but its still nice to be low ranked in all those categories or high ranked, whatever way you want to look at it."
But Conway was more concerned about the Wizards Saturday.
"We put ourselves in a position where we win and we go on," he said. "There's no better way to look at it. Pressure-wise, there's no pressure. Either we win or either we don't. Go and play the best we can."
That's something Conway has done down the stretch.
Michael Lewis can be reached at BigAppleEdit@aol.com.
