18-year-old Homegrown goalkeeper Andrew Rick made his sixth start as a Philadelphia Union first-teamer on Wednesday night, and he showed up big, making seven total saves when the team needed it most.
“Tonight was amazing,” Rick said after the final whistle. “The team really supported me, and we came up huge with a much-needed three points.”
For a second straight match, Rick filled in between the posts for three-time Goalkeeper of the Year Andre Blake, who's been unavailable due to injury since returning from international duty with Jamaica.
After a disappointing final score in Miami on Saturday that saw Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez each put goals past him, the budding keeper bounced back with ease, stifling New York City's attempts to decrease Philadelphia Union's early lead.
One save in particular put the Philadelphia Union Academy product in the national spotlight – in the 66th minute, Rick used one hand to paw the ball out of the net to keep their oppoent bay.
In a moment where it could’ve become a one goal game, he made a momentous stop, and Philadelphia Union went on to score two more for a 5-1 final score. The highlight was featured on Sportscenter’s Top 10 hours later, making an already special match that much more memorable.
Rick's teammates made sure to give him his deserved flowers too -- in a postgame interview on the pitch, Jakob Glesnes was quick to highlight his performance in net.
"We have to give honor to Rick behind us today. He had a couple of big saves in the first half and the second half when we needed it," Glesnes said.
