Major League Soccer has nominated Seattle Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei for 2017 Allstate Goalkeeper of the Year. Frei led MLS with 13 clean sheets, three more than anyone else. He finished second in Goals Against Average for goalkeepers who played at least 15 matches and saved 69.4 percent of shots faced.
Ahead of the Allstate Goalkeeper of the Year announcement on Nov. 16, SoundersFC.com counts down Frei’s top five saves of the year to date.
No. 5: At San Jose Earthquakes (4/8)
No. 4: At Minnesota United (8/5)
No. 3: Vs. Toronto FC (5/6)
No. 1: November 15
No. 2
Leading 2-0 in the 76th minute on the road at the Colorado Rapids on July 4, Frei showed off his excellent reflexes to deny Dominique Badji a sure goal.
Marlon Hairston swung in a cross from the right side that Alan Gordon headed into the ground before ricocheting off the crossbar. Badji was there to seemingly clean it up for a simple headed finish from two yards out, but Frei wasn’t having it. He sprung to his feet after diving on the initial header from Gordon and swatted Badji’s effort to his right before Jordy Delem cleared it out for a corner kick. Frei’s stop helped the Sounders would earn a crucial three points, leaving Dick’s Sporting Goods Park with a 3-1 win.