Player Profile: Bryan Meredith

After a 2011 Premier Development League national championship with the Kitsap Pumas, Meredith earned a contract with Seattle Sounders FC, the team that drafted him out of Monmouth University. He was expected to be third-choice behind Gspurning and Weber in 2012, but a series of injuries flung him into the thick of the action in May.

Player Name: Bryan Meredith National Affiliation: United States
Age: 23 Years Pro: 2 Years Sounder: 2
Position: Goalkeeper
Community Rank: 25

MLS Stats: 12 matches (10 starts), 990 minutes, 14 goals conceded, 1.27 GAA, 3 shutouts
CONCACAF Champions League Stats: N/A
U.S. Open Cup Stats: 3 matches (3 starts), 270 minutes, 2 goals conceded, 0.67 GAA, 1 shutout
Reserve League Stats: 4 matches (3 starts), 336 minutes, 5 goals conceded, 1.34 GAA, 0 shutouts

It took an injury crisis to get Meredith his first MLS minutes, but every player has to start somewhere. He was unfortunate to take over right when Seattle went on its long winless streak, but it was hardly his fault.

In his 10 starts, he was shaky only in the 4-1 loss in Montreal. He saved the May 9 game at FC Dallas with a world-class stop on Scott Sealy. He went his first 275 minutes in the league without conceding a goal.

And yet he still had his contract option declined.

Technical Ability (Handling, Footwork, Shot Stopping): The Sealy save was a technical masterpiece, and Meredith is a pretty polished product in that regard. He makes the simple saves easily and is capable of pulling off the outstanding.

Tactical Understanding (Decision Making): Meredith comes off his line well, but he did show moments of indecisiveness. More high-level experience will benefit this aspect of his game, although it is well developed after just one year in the league.

Leadership: Meredith played a major role in the Kitsap Pumas’ 2011 PDL national championship run, both as a player and a vocal leader. He saved a last-minute penalty kick in the Western Conference final.

Physical Skills: He is built more along the lines of Marcus Hahnemann than Gspurning, but Meredith uses his physical attributes well. Most players would lose the battle if they ran into him on a 50/50 ball.

Best Case for 2013: It would be surprising to see Meredith out of the top flight for very long. At the very least, he will be good for an NASL starting position. Perhaps the New York Cosmos, close to his hometown New Jersey, will come calling.

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All Profiles in Reverse Order

34 - Sodade
33 - Tetteh
32 - Steres
31 - Duran
30 - Sivebaek
29 - Ford
28 - Weber
27 - Hahnemann
26 - Seamon
25 - Meredith
24 - ?