Heroic performance helps red-hot Eddies reach top of league standings

FC Edmonton goalkeeper Matt VanOekel has been tremendous all season long, but on Saturday night in Tampa Bay, the 29-year-old veteran turned in perhaps his performance of the year to earn NASL Player of the Week honors.

VanOekel made nine saves in the Eddies’ 1-0 road win over the Tampa Bay Rowdies, posting his league-high 10th clean sheet of the year. By turning away all nine shots that he faced on Saturday night, VanOekel now leads the NASL in saves (70) to go along with his already league-best marks in clean sheets and goals against average (0.53).

"It was a great team win on Saturday night in Tampa Bay, which is a very difficult place to play," VanOekel said. "We need to keep moving forward, though, so it's time to look ahead to the next game."

The Rowdies tested VanOekel early and often at Al Lang Stadium over the weekend, forcing him into a crucial save less than two minutes into the game. In the 15th minute, he pulled off an impressive double-save, first denying midfielder Eric Avila and then striker Carlos Preciado.

After the break, it was Preciado who was denied again by VanOekel, who tipped the Colombian’s blistering effort over the crossbar in the 60th minute. Then, with his side up a goal after Daryl Fordyce’s penalty kick, VanOekel preserved the lead with a key save on English midfielder Joe Cole in the 76th minute.

“I’m absolutely delighted for Matt to be named Player of the Week,” FC Edmonton head coach Colin Miller said. “I hope he doesn’t win too many more of them because that would mean that we have been under a bit of pressure. His work and his play have been so consistent this season, and he has been a big part of our success story so far.”

With the help of a stout back line that features the likes of veteran Albert Watson and rising star Papé Diakité, VanOekel is spearheading one of the most impressive defensive displays in league history. The Eddies have only conceded 10 goals in 19 league games this year, shutting out their opponents in over half of them. In fact, the last time Edmonton conceded a goal was on July 27 in a 2-1 win over the New York Cosmos.

The Eddies’ incredible run of form has put them atop both the NASL Fall Season and Combined Standings. In the Fall Season Standings, the Canadian side sits two points ahead of the second-place Cosmos, while in the Combined Standings, New York trails by just a point. Edmonton has a game in hand on the three closest-chasing clubs: New York, Minnesota, and Indy (Spring Season Champion).

Going into this week, VanOekel and his teammates will look to extend their five-game winning streak. Lucky for the Eddies, they return home for their next game to defend an additional streak that is even more impressive than their current spell of consecutive league victories. At Clarke Field, Edmonton has won nine straight home games, with its last loss coming the second week of the season on April 10.

Puerto Rico FC is next up, visiting Edmonton this Sunday at 4 p.m. ET (2 p.m. local). The game can be seen live on ESPN3 (U.S., Puerto Rico) and NASL.com (Canada).