Washington Goalkeeper U
October 05, 2017 | Men's Soccer
By Kimberlie Haner
Since Washington men's soccer assistant coach Richard Reece was hired in 2005, the Huskies have produced five Major League Soccer (MLS) goalkeepers, building a strong tradition of goalies at Washington.
Reece has an impressive resume. In addition to coaching at UW, he is a director at Seattle United to help oversee the goalkeepers there. He also works with the Seattle Reign, coaching the US Academy Development teams. He has experience coaching at every level of the game and has thrived coaching this unique position.
"It is such a specialized position," Reece said. "It's so different from the rest of the game. You get to see the full game and direct it. It's just unique and very interesting."
Head coach Jamie Clark came into the picture in 2011, and he decided to keep Reece on the staff. For Reece, it was an easy decision to stay.
"I already knew Jamie before he came here, so it was a huge plus that it was a guy I liked and is a well-respected friend," Reece said. "The other part is I like Seattle and I love the school. It's the first university I've worked at and hopefully the last. It just feels right."
In Reece's tenure overseeing the goalies, five-straight goalkeepers have made it to the next level: Chris Eylander with the Seattle Sounders in 2009, Rylan Hawkins with the New England Revolution in 2010, Spencer Richey currently with the Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Ryan Herman signed with Miami FC in 2017 and Auden Schilder drafted by the San Jose Earthquakes in 2017. Currently Richey, Herman and Schilder are active in the MLS.
For some of these goalkeepers, Reece has known them since they were about 12, coaching them in club soccer. Reece's unique role in the Seattle soccer community has allowed him to build relationships and develop goalkeepers. The trust built and the success of the Husky soccer program eventually brings those goalies to UW.
Reece has kept that connection with them, keeping them connected to himself and Washington soccer.
"We chat to go over their lives and we chat to go over their games," Reece said. "It's not just a coaching relationship, it's a friendship."
The starting goalkeeper for this year's squad is Saif Kerawala, a redshirt sophomore. With a strong history of goalies at Washington, Kerawala's decision to be a Husky was not difficult.
"I knew some of those guys," Kerawala said. "I played with them at camps and was on the same team as a few of them. Being from near here, I always wanted to come here. Seeing their success and the others who have played professionally helped make my choice to come here a little easier."
Kerawala has played well thus far, collecting five shutouts. In the shutout against Seattle U, he notched a career-high six saves. Behind him are Andrew Morrison and Bryce Logan, ready to step in when needed.
"We've been fortunate to have had our last five goalkeepers all go pro, and Saif is right on track for that," Reece said. "He'll be a Sounders home-grown guy when he eventually finishes here. Bryce and Andrew are both highly decorated youth players and both have potential to follow. It's an exciting time. These three are really exciting."
The three goalies on the 2017 team are not taking their time for granted. Kerawala understands how special it is to have someone as experienced as Reece to coach them.
"It has been amazing," Kerawala said. "He knows so much, and being able to soak that all in has been great."
Five-straight goalies drafted in the MLS is a difficult thing to do for a program. Reece said that there are characteristics that all five of them and the current goalies share that is the key to a successful goalkeeper.
"I think it's a cross between quiet confidence and intelligence," Reece said. "It's a very lonely soul position. If it goes wrong, everyone looks back at you. They've all been strong enough in their character that they can work out what's on them and with what they can't really take credit for. And with that they can deal with the highs and lows."
With Reece leading the goalies and solid players on the team now and in the future, the success of goalkeepers at Washington is something to look forward to for a long time.
Since Washington men's soccer assistant coach Richard Reece was hired in 2005, the Huskies have produced five Major League Soccer (MLS) goalkeepers, building a strong tradition of goalies at Washington.
Reece has an impressive resume. In addition to coaching at UW, he is a director at Seattle United to help oversee the goalkeepers there. He also works with the Seattle Reign, coaching the US Academy Development teams. He has experience coaching at every level of the game and has thrived coaching this unique position.
"It is such a specialized position," Reece said. "It's so different from the rest of the game. You get to see the full game and direct it. It's just unique and very interesting."
Head coach Jamie Clark came into the picture in 2011, and he decided to keep Reece on the staff. For Reece, it was an easy decision to stay.
"I already knew Jamie before he came here, so it was a huge plus that it was a guy I liked and is a well-respected friend," Reece said. "The other part is I like Seattle and I love the school. It's the first university I've worked at and hopefully the last. It just feels right."
In Reece's tenure overseeing the goalies, five-straight goalkeepers have made it to the next level: Chris Eylander with the Seattle Sounders in 2009, Rylan Hawkins with the New England Revolution in 2010, Spencer Richey currently with the Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Ryan Herman signed with Miami FC in 2017 and Auden Schilder drafted by the San Jose Earthquakes in 2017. Currently Richey, Herman and Schilder are active in the MLS.
For some of these goalkeepers, Reece has known them since they were about 12, coaching them in club soccer. Reece's unique role in the Seattle soccer community has allowed him to build relationships and develop goalkeepers. The trust built and the success of the Husky soccer program eventually brings those goalies to UW.
Reece has kept that connection with them, keeping them connected to himself and Washington soccer.
"We chat to go over their lives and we chat to go over their games," Reece said. "It's not just a coaching relationship, it's a friendship."
The starting goalkeeper for this year's squad is Saif Kerawala, a redshirt sophomore. With a strong history of goalies at Washington, Kerawala's decision to be a Husky was not difficult.
"I knew some of those guys," Kerawala said. "I played with them at camps and was on the same team as a few of them. Being from near here, I always wanted to come here. Seeing their success and the others who have played professionally helped make my choice to come here a little easier."
Kerawala has played well thus far, collecting five shutouts. In the shutout against Seattle U, he notched a career-high six saves. Behind him are Andrew Morrison and Bryce Logan, ready to step in when needed.
"We've been fortunate to have had our last five goalkeepers all go pro, and Saif is right on track for that," Reece said. "He'll be a Sounders home-grown guy when he eventually finishes here. Bryce and Andrew are both highly decorated youth players and both have potential to follow. It's an exciting time. These three are really exciting."
The three goalies on the 2017 team are not taking their time for granted. Kerawala understands how special it is to have someone as experienced as Reece to coach them.
"It has been amazing," Kerawala said. "He knows so much, and being able to soak that all in has been great."
Five-straight goalies drafted in the MLS is a difficult thing to do for a program. Reece said that there are characteristics that all five of them and the current goalies share that is the key to a successful goalkeeper.
"I think it's a cross between quiet confidence and intelligence," Reece said. "It's a very lonely soul position. If it goes wrong, everyone looks back at you. They've all been strong enough in their character that they can work out what's on them and with what they can't really take credit for. And with that they can deal with the highs and lows."
With Reece leading the goalies and solid players on the team now and in the future, the success of goalkeepers at Washington is something to look forward to for a long time.
Players Mentioned
GK
/ Men's Soccer
GK
/ Men's Soccer
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GK
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