Season Preview: Defense and Goalkeepers
8/22/2021
Less than four months removed from advancing to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament, the Washington men's soccer program is back on the pitch and revved up for what is sure to be another exciting campaign. Returning to Montlake are the top 13 players form the Spring season based on minutes played, including eight All-Pac-12 honorees and two All-Americans in Dylan Teves and Charlie Ostrem. For the 11th straight season, three-time Pac-12 Coach of the Year Jamie Clark patrols the Washington touchline.
First up in the 2021 season preview is a look at the Husky goalkeepers and defenders.
In the Net
Sophomore goalkeeper Sam Fowler is back between the pipes after starting 14 games last season with a record of 10-4. The Second Team All-Pac 12 performer recorded six shutouts in the Spring and had a goals allowed average of just 0.78. In his young career, Fowler has already amassed 13 shutouts and is the Washington all-time leader in postseason shutouts with three. His career GAA sits at 0.70.
Providing depth behind Fowler are redshirt junior Andrew Morrison and true freshman Jadon Bowton. Morrison has appeared in three matches in his Husky career and has not allowed a goal.
The Back Line
Pac-12 Defender of the Year Charlie Ostrem is back for another season after leading the conference and ranking second in the entire country with 11 assists in the Spring. Ostrem's ability to help defend the back line while also pushing up the pitch to create chances make him one of the most dynamic players in the country and earned him Preseason First Team All-America honors by College Soccer News.
Joining Ostrem in the Husky defense are starting center backs Ryan Sailor and Kendall Burks. Their size and experience helped Washington allow just 0.81 goals per game last season and earned them both Second Team All-Pac-12 honors. However, Sailor and Burks have also displayed a proclivity for point-scoring, as they combined for 15 points in the Spring. Sailor had 4 goals, including the game-winner in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament. Burks scored 3 goals in his own right, including a brace against UCLA.
Khai Brisco provides more starting experience, as he was in the starting eleven for seven matches last season and has emerged as a top option on defense for Jamie Clark. Kalani Kossa-Rienzi started 10 games as a freshman and distributed three assists while playing both the midfield and on the defense. Nate Jones gained valuable experience in the Spring, starting against both No. 2 Stanford and No. 3 Oregon State, playing a combined 137 minutes in those matches.
In addition to the returning experience, UW added dynamic transfer Achille Robin from Bowling Green. Robin made 45 starts on defense for the Falcons and played every minute for them in two straight seasons. He also displayed the ability to make plays on the attacking end of the pitch, totaling 7 goals and five assists in his career, while converting all three of the penalty kicks he took.
With everyone from last year's roster gaining a free year of eligibility due to the pandemic, a pair of freshman in Woody Manum and Jack Maguire retained their freshman status as they continue to develop their games. Uli Esquivel joins the Huskies as a true freshman and enters the fold with first-team experience with Sacramento Republic FC of the USL via an academy contract. Keegan Yorke joins Esquivel as a true freshman on the defense and brings valuable experience such as training with Dutch side A.F.C. Ajax and playing with the Sounders Academy.
While it remains to be seen what the 2021 season has in store for Washington, there is no doubt that the Husky defense is primed for another successful campaign. With the core of last season's stout back line back, the prospects are incredibly high for UW when the team opens up its season on Thursday night against UC Davis.
