With Vancouver Whitecaps FC set to kick off the 2015 MLS regular season this Saturday, March 7 against Toronto FC, whitecapsfc.com will take an in-depth look at the club’s roster with a different piece every day leading up to First Kick. Today, we feature the goalkeepers.
GOALKEEPERS (3): MARCO CARDUCCI, DAVID OUSTED, PAOLO TORNAGHI
Whitecaps FC enter the 2015 season with the same three goalkeepers they did one year ago. It’s the only position where there haven’t been any changes. As they say, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
Danish goalkeeper David Ousted returns as the clear-cut number one. The 30-year-old led MLS with 13 clean sheets and held two of the three longest shutout streaks last season. He also led MLS with “29 saving catches,” according to Opta Sports, which is defined as a save made without giving up a rebound.
And Ousted appears to have picked up where he left off, shining in Saturday's preseason finale against Chicago Fire after posting a clean sheet earlier in the week against Portland Timbers.
“This is a new season,” Ousted told whitecapsfc.com. “I need to go in and play my game and not look at stats. I’ve said before, I’d much rather win 2-1 than play in a nil-nil. I’ll go for clean sheets every single time I’m in there but the most important thing for me is that the team is getting three points. That’s my focus.”
Ousted played every minute of every regular season match last season. He was the only Whitecaps FC player to do that.
Is it possible he could do it again in 2015?
“It is, yeah,” Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson told whitecapsfc.com. “Paolo [Tornaghi] is pushing him and Paolo pushed him a lot last year as well, but because David was in such good form he managed to play every minute of every game. If you look at the history of players who’ve done that, they tend not to do it the second year. I hope David does do it the second year, because Paolo will get plenty of games in other competitions anyway.”
Between MLS play, the CONCACAF Champions League, and the Amway Canadian Championship, the ‘Caps are going to have at least 40 matches this season, and possibly more. Then, of course, there’s the 28-match United Soccer League schedule for Whitecaps FC 2.
Tornaghi is going to get some games. And based on his performance in the preseason, particularly in a 3-2 win over Norwegian side Stabæk last week, Robinson said he’ll have “no worries throwing him in.”
For his part, Tornaghi’s mindset hasn’t changed heading into the upcoming season. He’s going to do whatever he can to help the team, whether that’s playing games, training well, or staying positive and supporting Ousted.
“For a goalkeeper, it’s crucial to be positive,” Tornaghi told whitecapsfc.com. “During a game, of course, but all year long as well. You have to be positive no matter what the situation is. Only one goalkeeper plays at a time. The others have to be positive and be ready.”
Marco Carducci, meanwhile, will likely be a key figure for WFC2, who are set to begin their 2015 USL campaign on March 29 against Sounders FC 2. The 18-year-old Calgary native had been dealing with an injury the last few weeks so he didn’t appear in any preseason matches for Robinson’s side, but he’s back to full training now.
Last year, Carducci made his professional debut in the two-leg Amway Canadian Championship semifinal against Toronto FC. At 18 years old, he remains the youngest player on Vancouver’s MLS roster.
“We’ve got a top, quality goalkeeper in David, an excellent back up in Paolo, and obviously everyone knows my thoughts on Marco,” Robinson said. “He’s a very good, talented young up and coming Canadian goalkeeper with a huge upside. So we have a really good balance there.”
Participate in the best sporting experience in Vancouver! The 2015 Whitecaps FC season kicks off on March 7 versus Toronto FC at BC Place. Whitecaps FC Season Tickets are now on sale. In addition to Season Tickets, Whitecaps FC offer a flexible range of ticket products, including Half-Season Packs, 5-Packs, Student Half-Season Tickets, and a Youth Soccer Half-Season Ticket. For more information on 2015 Season Tickets, visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets.
