November 12, 2009 IN THE MIX Goldy finalist for MLS save of year
One Red Bull player is up for an MLS end of the season honor -- defender Kevin Goldthwaite, who is a finalist for save of the year.
Goldthwaite saved a goal in the 2-0 home win over Real Salt Lake April 18. With the ball ricocheting toward the net off of Yura Movsisyan, Goldthwaite hustles back to clear the ball off the line to preserve a 1-0 lead.
You can vote for save of the year at http://web.mlsnet.com/sights/save_of_the_year/
The other candidates (in alphabetical order):
Preston Burpo, Colorado (Week 31): The Rapids goalkeeper leaps in a full stretch to deflect a David Ferreira shot over the crossbar keeping Colorado in the game on the road against FC Dallas.
Geoff Cameron, Houston (Week 31): Houston Dynamo defender Cameron recovers behind his goalkeeper to save a shot from LA forward Edson Buddle with an acrobatic bicycle kick just before the ball would have crossed the goal line.
Joe Cannon, San Jose (Week 11): Holding on to a 2-1 lead in stoppage time against Real Salt Lake, San Jose keeper Joe Cannon dives at full stretch to rob Yura Movsisyan's game-tying attempt.
Kevin Hartman, Kansas City (Week 32): Kansas City goalkeeper Hartman recovers just in time to tip a Ben Olsen shot over the cross bar to keep the Wizards ahead of D.C. in the closing minutes.
Tyrone Marshall, Seattle (Week 29): Protecting a 1-0 lead on the road in a must-win game, Seattle defender Tyrone Marshall acrobatically redirects a Steven Lenhart header away from the goal and clears the successive rebound attempt.
Pat Onstad, Houston (Week 5): With his team ahead 1-0 late in the 2nd half, Houston Dynamo goalkeeper Pat Onstad stones Rapids' forward Conor Casey on a PK attempt and covers the length of the goal to deny the rebound attempt by an onrushing Terry Cooke.
Nick Rimando, RSL (Week 19): In the 71st minute of a tie game, RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando delights the crowd by stopping MLS Golden Boot Winner Jeff Cunningham's penalty kick attempt, and holds the ball to ensure Real Salt Lake’s escapes the situation unscathed.
* Dario Sala, Dallas (Week 30): Sala gets down quickly on a well-struck Antonio Ribeiro shot destined for the corner of the goal to push it wide.
* Zach Thornton, Chivas (Week 6): MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Zach Thornton, stops in his tracks and reverses direction to make an huge one-handed stop on a point blank shot by FC Dallas midfielder Dax McCarty.
