Josh Saunders

This article is about the American soccer goalkeeper. For the EastEnders character, see Josh Saunders (EastEnders)

Josh Saunders

Saunders with the Galaxy in August 2010
Personal information
Full name	Josh Saunders
Date of birth	March 2, 1981 (1981-03-02)
Place of birth	Grants Pass, Oregon, United States
Height	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Playing position	Goalkeeper
Club information
Current club	Los Angeles Galaxy
Number	12
Youth career
1999–2000	Cal State Fullerton Titans
2001–2002	California Golden Bears
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2003	San Jose Earthquakes	0	(0)
2003	→ Portland Timbers (loan)	16	(0)
2004	Portland Timbers	24	(0)
2005–2006	Los Angeles Galaxy	0	(0)
2005–2006	→ Portland Timbers (loan)	50	(0)
2007	Puerto Rico Islanders	22	(0)
2008	Miami FC	27	(0)
2008	→ Los Angeles Galaxy (loan)	3	(0)
2009–	Los Angeles Galaxy	26	(0)
National team‡
2008	Puerto Rico	2	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of October 19, 2011. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of October 19, 2011

Josh Saunders (born March 2, 1981 in Grants Pass, Oregon) is an American-born Puerto Rican footballer who currently plays for Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer.

Career

College

Saunders spent the final two seasons of his collegiate career at Berkeley, after spending the previous two at Cal-State Fullerton. He was named a First Team All-Pac 10 selection in each of his two seasons with the Golden Bears, and during his senior season he became the first keeper ever to be named Pac-10 Player of the Year. He has a B.A. in American Studies.

Professional

After being selected in the fourth round of the 2003 MLS Superdraft Saunders made the roster of the San Jose Earthquakes, but did not appear in an official match. Instead, Saunders played on loan with the Portland Timbers in the USL First Division, where he played every minute of his 16 games, allowing only 15 goals, giving him a 0.90 GAA for the 2003 season. The next year, he started 24 games and posted a 1.11 GAA with six shutouts. Chief among his feats was a 363-minute scoreless streak, which, until recently, was the longest in Timbers history.

Saunders joined Los Angeles Galaxy in 2005 as third-choice keeper behind Kevin Hartman and Steve Cronin, but again failed to appear in a first team game, logged only 15 minutes as a substitute in a game for the Galaxy's reserves. In 2007, Saunders and three other players were waived from the LA Galaxy. Some bloggers suspected this was due to the massive expense of acquiring soccer star David Beckham, and despite a successful pre-season trial with Chicago Fire, signed for the Puerto Rico Islanders for the 2007 season. He made his debut for the Islanders in a 2-1 victory over the Rochester Raging Rhinos on April 14, 2007.

On April 11, 2008, Saunders signed with Miami FC, and subsequently made 27 appearances for the Florida team, until he was loaned to Los Angeles Galaxy in September 2008 for the remainder of the MLS season. Saunders signed a permanent contract with Galaxy in early 2009, and is expected to serve as understudy to Donovan Ricketts.

On November 22, 2009, he came on in the 2nd half in relief of the injured Ricketts during the 2009 MLS Cup. Despite holding Real Salt Lake scoreless for the remaining 26 minutes of regulation and 30 minutes of extra time, Saunders was unable to guide the Galaxy to their 3rd MLS Cup title when he could stop only two of seven Salt Lake penalty attempts.

Saunders had an impressive season during 2011, putting in commanding performances in LA's goal in the absence of Ricketts, who was out for most of the season with a long-term injury. Saunders guided Galaxy to their 3rd MLS Cup by keeping a clean sheet.

International

In 2008, Saunders made his debut with the Puerto Rican national team, and is now considered to have Puerto Rican sporting nationality.

Honors

Portland Timbers (USL)

• USL A-League Commissioner's Cup (1): 2004

Los Angeles Galaxy

• MLS Cup (1): 2011
• Major League Soccer Supporters' Shield (2): 2010, 2011
• Major League Soccer Western Conference Championship (2): 2009, 2011

See also

• List of current MLS players

External links

• MLS player profile
• ESPN Profile