Miami FC re-signs goalkeeper Josh Saunders for 2009 season

September 12, 2008 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Fort Lauderdale Strikers News Release


Miami, September 12, 2008 - Miami FC announced today that goalkeeper Josh Saunders (photo attached) will return to the Blues in 2009, under a new contract that has been signed and will run until the end of the season. The club also announced that Saunders will join the Los Angeles Galaxy of MLS, on loan, for the remainder of 2008.

"Both teams and Saunders are very excited about this loan. Josh has greatly impressed us with his skills, work ethic, enthusiasm and tenacity," said Miami FC's GM Luiz Muzzi. "He is an excellent goalkeeper and a very mature player. We expect Josh will be a key component of our squad in 2009, ultimately leading Miami FC into the post-season and competing for next year's title. Re-signing Josh Saunders is part of our efforts to put a championship caliber team on the field in 2009."

Josh Saunders is a 27-year-old, 6'4" Oregon native and is considered one of the pillars of the Miami FC squad. He currently leads the team in the categories of minutes played, games played, and games started. This season Josh leads the league in shutouts with 13, and posted an average of 1.2 goals allowed. Before joining the Blues, he posted an average of 1.18 goals allowed last season in 22 starts with the Puerto Rico Islanders, including 6 shutouts.

In 2007 Saunders spent time with the Portland Timbers, on loan from the same Los Angeles Galaxy he has now re-joined. During his senior season in college at the University of California, Berkeley, he was the first goalkeeper ever to be named Pac-10 Player of the Year.

"This is a great opportunity for me. It's a chance to play with some of the best players in the US. I am truly honored but I also realize how important playing for Miami FC is and I am fully committed to coming back in 2009 to this organization that has treated me really well. I hope I can learn a lot on and off the field and come back a better player," said Saunders.

Josh Saunders' chance to play for the Galaxy comes as goalkeeper Steve Cronin got injured. Cronin is expected to be out four to six weeks with a broken right hand, having suffered the injury when his hand struck the face of New England's Taylor Twellman in a recent match. Cronin stayed in the game until half time, when he was replaced by backup Josh Wicks, who made his MLS debut.

Saunders joins the L.A. Galaxy as the immediate reserve for Wicks, but is expected to compete for a starting spot. Wicks is right now the only healthy goalkeeper listed on the Galaxy roster, with draft pick Charles Alamo out for the season.

Wicks is a young but experienced goalkeeper, signed by the Galaxy after he impressed on a trial during the 2008 preseason. The 24-year-old San Bernardino native has three years of experience under his belt already after having spent time with the Vancouver Whitecaps and Portland Timbers of the USL First Division. He helped lead the Whitecaps to the USL championship in 2006 and was named the league's Goalkeeper of the Year in 2007.



USL First Division Stories from September 12, 2008


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