Blake and Rick nominated for 2024 MLS Save of the Year
MLS announced on Monday afternoon that Philadelphia Union goalkeepers Andre Blake and Andrew Rick are on the ballot for the 2024 AT&T MLS Save of the Year.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2023 (Philadelphia): Blake made 27 appearances (27 starts) at keeper for the Union in 2023, registering eight clean sheets and maintaining a 1.06 GAA…Registered his first clean sheet against SKC (4/1)...Registered his fifth clean sheet of the season against CLT (5/31)...With his assist against FC Dallas, Goalkeeper Andre Blake became the first goalkeeper in club history to record an assist in an MLS regular season match (9/27)...registered eight saves against the CLB, securing Team of the Matchday honors (9/30).
2022 (Philadelphia): Blake made 34 appearances (34 starts) at keeper in 2022, allowing just 26 goals...Registered five saves in the home opener against Minnesota United FC (2/26)...Picked up his first clean sheet against San Jose Earthquakes (3/12)...Recorded his second consecutive clean sheet against New York City FC (3/19)...Picked up his third consecutive clean sheet against Charlotte FC (4/2)...Earned a spot on the Team of the Week (Week 9)...Registered his fifth clean sheet of the season against Inter Miami CF (5/18)...Registered his fifth sheet in a 2-0 away win against Portland (5/22)...Registered his seventh clean sheet of the season against Columbus Crew (7/3)...Picked up his eighth shutout against DC (7/8)...Picked up his 10th clean sheet against HOU (7/30)...Andre Blake was selected to his fourth MLS All-Star Game...Registered his 12th clean sheet of the season against Colorado Rapids (8/27)... Registered his 13th clean sheet of the season against RBNY (9/3), a club and personal record...Registered his 14th clean sheet of the season against Atlanta FC (9/17)...Registered his 15th clean sheet (career high) of the season against Toronto FC (10/9)...Conceded the least amount of goals in MLS history (26).
2021 (Philadelphia): Blake made 34 appearances (34 starts) at keeper in 2021 across all competitions...He has registered 12 MLS clean sheets...Instrumental in securing the Union three-straight clean sheets in both legs of the team’s Concacaf Champions League matchup against Deportivo Saprissa (1-0 Apr. 7, 4-0 Apr. 14) and in the Union’s first MLS game of the season vs. Columbus away (Apr. 18), a 0-0 draw where Blake recorded five saves...Blake put on another brick wall-like performance during the Union's 3-0 first leg Concacaf Champions League quarterfinal win against Atlanta United FC where he recorded 7 saves and kept another clean sheet (Apr. 27)...Recorded another clean sheet in the Union's 2-0 victory at Chicago (May 8)...Named to the MLS Team of the Week (Week 6) after his strong showcase at D.C. United where he recorded 7 saves and kept a clean sheet (May 23)...Collected his 10th clean sheet against Columbus Crew (Oct. 3)...Blake sets career high with 11th shut out of season against Nashville SC (Oct. 23)...Earned his 12th clean sheet of the season (50th career) in the win against FC Cincinnati (Oct. 31), tying Zac MacMath’s 2013 club record for clean sheets in a season...Picked up his first career playoff clean sheet against NYRB (Nov. 20)...Andre Blake made two saves in the victory against Nashville SC, not letting a single shot make it past him in penalties (Nov. 28)...Started two postseason matches of the Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs, making three saves and maintaining a 0.38 GAA. Blake won the team-voted MVP award after tying the club record for most clean sheets in a single season (12). He was also a finalist for the 2021 Allstate Goalkeeper of the Year award, claiming the award in 2016 and 2020.
2020 (Philadelphia): Blake made 21 appearances (21 starts) for the Union, recording eight shutouts en route to being named the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year for the second time in his career... Registered eight saves in the 3-3 road draw against LAFC (March 8) ... Made seven saves in a 1-0 victory over NYCFC (July 9), recording his first shutout of the season ... \Came up with five saves and earned a shutout in the 1-0 victory over the New England Revolution (July 25) to send the Union to the MLS is Back Tournament Quarterfinals \... Registered his second MLS clean sheet of the season in a 0-0 draw at New England (August 20) ... Made 3 saves and kept a clean sheet in a 1-0 win against the New York Red Bulls in the first match at Subaru Park.. Recorded back to back shutouts for the Boys in Blue with a late save at FC Cincinnati (September 23rd) and followed it up against Inter Miami CF (September 27)...Recorded his 37th career shutout and 7th of the season against FC Cincinnati (October 7)...Followed up with his eight clean sheet of the season in the Union's 5-0 home win over Toronto FC (October 24).
2019 (Philadelphia): Blake made 26 appearances (26 starts) for the Union this season, recording three clean sheets ... stopped a penalty in the Union's opening match vs. Toronto (March 2), the third penalty save of his MLS career ... missed the match vs. Columbus (March 23) while on international duty, as Jamaica clinched a berth in the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup ... registered his first shutout of the season with a one-save blanking at FC Cincinnati (March 30) ... missed the stretch of matches from at Vancouver (April 27) through at Toronto (May 11) after being listed as out with a right adductor strain ... returned to the lineup vs. Seattle (May 18), keeping a one-save shutout ... was named to the MLS Team of the Week for Week 14 after a four-save performance in a win at Minnesota (June 2) ... received a call-up by Jamaica ahead of the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup, including a friendly in Washington, D.C. against the United States (June 5), which he started while keeping a clean sheet in a 1-0 win ... started the Gold Cup opener vs. Honduras, a 3-2 win (June 17) ... kept a clean sheet in Jamaica's second group stage match vs. El Salvador (June 21) ... led Jamaica to a Group C win and advancement to the Knockout Stage following a 1-1 draw vs. Curacao (June 25) ... was named to the 2019 MLS All-Star Game roster, becoming the first two-time All-Star in Union history; he played 29 minutes in the match, making one save ... kept a clean sheet in Jamaica's Quarterfinal win over Panama, held in Philadelphia (June 30) ... missed the Union matches from at New England (June 26) through at Orlando (July 3) while with Jamaica ... returned to the Union with a start vs. Orlando (July 7) ... kept his third clean sheet of the season with a three-save blanking of Chicago (July 20) ... called up by Jamaica ahead of 2019-20 Concacaf Nations League B action vs. Antigua and Barbuda (September 6) and at Guyana (September 9); Blake kept clean sheets in both matches as part of two Jamaica wins ...called up once again for the second round of the 2019-20 Concacaf Nations League B matches vs. Aruba (October 12) and at Aruba (October 15).
2018 (Philadelphia): Blake made 33 regular-season appearances (33 starts) in goal, registering a 14-14-5 record with a career-best 10 shutouts. He kept a clean sheet on opening day with a three-save blanking of New England (March 3), and again allowed zero goals in his second start of the season, vs. Columbus (March 17). Internationally, he earned his 32nd international cap during a start for Jamaica in a friendly vs. Antigua and Barbuda, which ended in a 1-1 draw (March 25). He became the Union's all-time saves leader, passing Zac MacMath, with three stops as part of a win at Chicago (July 11). Continuing his strong form, he kept back-to-back clean sheets in home wins vs. NYCFC (August 18) and New England (August 25) and was named to the MLS Team of the Week (Week 26) for his performance in the latter. He notched his third straight shutout with a three-save blanking at D.C. United (August 29), tying the Union record for most goalkeeper wins in a single season (12). After receiving a call-up from Jamaica ahead of a friendly vs. Ecuador (September 7) and a home 2019-20 CONCACAF Nations League qualifier vs. the Cayman Islands (September 9); he started the latter match, his 33rd cap, recording a shutout in a 4-0 win. He kept his ninth clean sheet of the season while setting the Union single-season saves record in the win at Seattle (September 19). Following that up, he set a new single-season career best with his 10th shutout, at Columbus (September 29) and was named to the MLS Team of the Week (Week 31). Blake was called-up again by Jamaica ahead of a CONCACAF Nations League qualifier at Bonaire (October 14), in which he started and kept a clean sheet in a 6-0 victory. He also started the Union's Knockout Round postseason match at NYCFC (October 31). In the 2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, Blake made four appearances (four starts) in goal. He made his season debut in the tournament as part of the Round of 16 win over the Red Bulls (June 16). He kept a clean sheet in the Quarterfinals win over Orlando (July 18) and recorded another shutout in the Semifinals win over Chicago (August 8).
2017 (Philadelphia): Blake made 26 appearances (all starts) for the Union, compiling a 9-10-7 record with a career-best nine shutouts. He was named a finalist for the league's Goalkeeper of the Year award for the second straight season. After Blake's third consecutive clean sheet, at D.C. United (May 13), it marked just the second time in Union history that the team registered three straight clean sheets. He then took the streak to 363 minutes, setting a high watermark for any goalkeeper in MLS at the time, with his fourth consecutive shutout, vs. Houston (May 17). It was the first time that any Union team ever recorded four straight shutouts as well as the second longest individual shutout streak (by minutes) in team history. He extended the streak to 378 minutes as part of a 2-1 win against Colorado (May 20), the Union's record fourth straight victory. He was called-up by Jamaica to represent the Reggae Boyz in the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup, leading the team to the final and winning the tournament's Golden Gloves award as well as a Best XI nomination.
2016 (Philadelphia): Blake broke out in 2016, starting 32 matches for the Union en route to being named the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year. He went 10-13-9 with 99 saves over a career-high 2,880 minutes played. He also started two U.S. Open Cup matches and the Union’s postseason contest at Toronto FC. Midway through the campaign, Blake was also named to the 2016 MLS All-Star squad along with Keegan Rosenberry, where he started the contest against Arsenal.
2015 (Philadelphia): The Jamaican international made six appearances (all starts) for the Union, all down the stretch of the 2015 season. He started six of the final eight matches after recovering from knee injuries, going 2-3-1 with 26 saves over 540 minutes played. He made 10 saves against New England on September 26, 2015, setting a club record. He also started the final of the 2015 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup against Sporting Kansas City, a narrow penalty shootout loss for Philadelphia.
2014 (Philadelphia): Blake was selected by Philadelphia first overall in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft, the first goalkeeper ever to be taken first overall in the history of the event. During his rookie season, he made one appearance (one start) for Philadelphia, on August 16, 2014 at Houston. He also started the Union’s U.S. Open Cup match against Harrisburg (June 18, 2014), a 3-1 victory for Philadelphia.
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
Blake regularly features as Jamaica’s number one goalkeeper and has earned 73 caps and 25 clean sheets for the Reggae Boyz. His debut came in a friendly against Barbados on March 3, 2014. He has since started for Jamaica in the 2014 Caribbean Cup as well as FIFA World Cup qualification and the Copa America Centenario 2016, where he played every minute of every match. He received his first call-up of the 2017 season ahead of a friendly against Peru in Lima (June 13). He started that match and made five saves, earning his 24th cap in the process. He also received a call-up to represent Jamaica during the Group Stage in the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup. He kept a clean sheet while wearing the captain's armband during a 2-0 win over Curacao to begin the tournament (July 9). Serving as the captain again, he registered his second consecutive shutout in Jamaica's next tournament game, vs. Mexico (July 14). Completing the Group Stage with Jamaica in second place, Blake earned his 27th cap against El Salvador (July 16). In the Quarterfinals, he made four saves in his 28th cap en route to a 2-1 win over Canada (July 20), helping Jamaica reach the Semifinals. One match later, in cap number 29, while still serving as Jamaica's captain, he made five saves en route to another shutout over Mexico (July 23) as Jamaica advanced to the Final. Blake started the Final (July 26), his 30th cap, but left early due to a hand injury. Following the tournament, he was named the Golden Gloves winner as well as to the Best XI for the event.
Following the Gold Cup, Blake's next call-up came ahead of an international friendly at Canada (September 2). He started that contest, earning his 31st cap. He was called-up ahead of an additional friendly, at Saudi Arabia (October 7), but did not travel.
In 2018, Blake received his first call-up of the year ahead of a friendly against Antigua and Barbuda in Kingston (March 25), which he started for his 32nd cap. He received his second call-up of the year in September, ahead of a friendly vs. Ecuador at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey (September 7), and a home contest against the Cayman Islands in 2019-20 CONCACAF Nations League qualification (September 9). Blake did not appear in the first contest, but he started the second for his 33rd cap, keeping a clean sheet as part of a 4-0 win. He received another call-up ahead of Jamaica's second qualifier, away to Bonaire (October 14) -- where he started and kept a clean sheet -- as well as their third, home vs. Suriname (November 17), which he started in a 2-1 win.
In 2019, Blake earned his first call-up of the season ahead of two matches: a Concacaf Nations League contest at El Salvador (March 23) and an international friendly at Costa Rica (March 26). He started the first contest, his 36th cap, following which Jamaica officially clinched a berth in the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup. Ahead of the tournament, he received another call-up, including a friendly in Washington, D.C. against the United States (June 5), which he started for this 37th cap while keeping a clean sheet in a 1-0 win. In the tournament, he started the opener vs. Honduras (June 17), a 3-2 win. He kept a clean sheet against El Salvador in the Reggae Boyz' second Group Stage game (June 21), and led Jamaica to a Group C victory following a 1-1 draw against Curacao (June 25). In the Quarterfinals, he kept a clean sheet as part of a 1-0 win over Panama (June 30); the match was held at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field. He earned his 42nd cap in the Semifinal, a loss to the United States in Nashville (July 3).
Following the Gold Cup, Blake's next call-up was before 2019-20 Concacaf Nations League B action vs. Antigua and Barbuda (September 6) and at Guyana (September 9). He kept clean sheets in both matches as part of two Jamaica wins. He was called up once again ahead of the next pair of Concacaf Nations League B matches vs. Aruba (October 12) and at Aruba (October 15).
In 2021, Blake earned his first call-up of the season ahead of the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup, making it to the Quarter-Finals of the competition. He kept one clean sheet in a 2-0 win over Suriname (July 13). Following the Gold Cup, Blake's second, third, and fourth call-ups came ahead of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, where he started in all eight matches of the group stage, picking up a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw over Canada (Oct. 11) and a 2-0 win over Honduras (Oct.14).
Following the Gold Cup, Blake's second, third, and fourth call-ups came ahead of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, where he started in all eight matches of the group stage, picking up a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw over Canada (10/11) and a 2-0 win over Honduras (10/14)
In 2023, Blake made nine appearances in net for the Reggae Boyz, including four matches during the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup, falling in the semifinals against Mexico.
COLLEGE EXPERIENCE
Blake registered 37 shutouts and a 46-10-12 record in three years at the University of Connecticut, earning Conference Goalkeeper of the Year awards each season (two Big East, one American Athletic Conference). A semifinalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy as a junior, he also earned All-Big East first team, NSCAA First Team All-American, Soccer America MVP First Team and Soccer America All-Freshman First Team recognition during his time at UConn.
ACQUIRED: Selected by the Philadelphia Union in the First Round (First Overall) of the 2014 MLS SuperDraft on January 16, 2014. Signed to a new multi-year contract using Targeted Allocation Money on January 17, 2018.