Red Bulls rookie goalkeeper Ryan Meara registered his first career victory in Major League Soccer against the Colorado Rapids on Mar. 25 and has since been on a roll. Not only did he do so in front of the home crowd (plus friends and family) at Red Bull Arena, but since then he's backstopped the Red Bulls to three-straight victories and currently leads the league in saves (21).
In Saturday's 4-1 win over the Columbus Crew, Meara came within just a few minutes of registering his first career MLS shutout before Crew defender Chad Marshall deposited a header into the mesh during the 89th minute. Midfielder Dax McCarty said, despite the three-goal margin in victory, the team was a bit disappointed that it couldn't secure the clean sheet.
"We're really upset that we couldn't get Ryan his first shutout," McCarty said following Tuesday's training session at Montclair State University. "I think he deserved it."
Here's what MLSsoccer.com said of Meara's jump in the Rookie Rankings
:
"For the better part of 90 minutes, it looked like Meara was going to get his first MLS clean sheet as New York stuck it to the Crew in Columbus. But in the 89th minute, fellow rookie Kirk Urso whipped a corner kick into the box that Chad Marshall deposited in the back of the net. A tough test awaits this weekend against San Jose."
Meara and the Red Bulls will have their work cut out for them Saturday when the 4-1 Earthquakes come to town for a 7pm ET kick off. Watch on MSG+ or
enjoy the league's top three goalscorers in person
. Get your tickets now at
Red Bulls Ticket Central
or by calling 877.RB.SOCCER.
