The Philadelphia Union 'keeper made the impossible saves possible, holding together a back line that suffered through injuries.

2015 seems like ages ago.

When that MLS campaign began, the Philadelphia Union goalkeeper situation was, to put it nicely, in flux. The team had signed Algerian goalkeeper Rais M’Bolhi as a designated player in 2014, despite spending the No. 1 overall pick earlier that year on Andre Blake. But M’Bolhi's play was so poor that the Union were ready to move on after he played just five games for Philadelphia in 2015.

The bulk of the action fell to Brian Sylvestre and John McCarthy, who combined to play 23 games. Blake, once he had had fully recovered from knee surgery, finally grabbed hold of the starter’s gig at the end of the season. He ended up playing in six games and posted a save percentage of 74.3 percent — the highest of any Union 'keeper that season.

But while 2015 was a preview, 2016 is when it all came together for Blake.

The Jamaica international was the rock between the sticks for the Union, making big stops on a weekly basis and shoring up a back line that had a wealth of inexperience between rookie defenders Keegan Rosenberry and Joshua Yaro.

You can see for yourself in the video below:

Blake’s stats are solid, though other goalkeepers might get the better of him in different categories. Almost every week, however, the 25-year-old managed to keep the Union in games with some highlight-reel stops.

Without those performances, it’s hard to imagine the Union breaking their postseason drought, considering they made the playoffs on goal difference. For stabilizing the Union’s goalkeeper position — an especially difficult task with two rookies on the back line — and for often make the impossible save possible, Andre Blake has won Goal’s Goalkeeper of the Year award.

Honorable mentions

Jake Gleeson: The Timbers goalkeeper took the job from Adam Kwarasey and never looked back. Among 'keepers who played at least 20 games, Gleeson’s save percentage of 73.5 was second to Brian Rowe. He also was tied for the third-most saves in the league, which gives you an idea on the volume of shots Gleeson saw, since he played at least three fewer games than the players ahead of him. Gleeson also saw the third-most shots taken from inside the box, and stopped 69.1 percent of them — the second-best mark in the league.

Luis Robles: It was another solid season for Robles, who at times had to hold together a New York Red Bulls back four that struggled with injuries to key players while trying to replace the departed Matt Miazga. Robles finished with 11 clean sheets to top the league.

Stefan Frei: The Sounders defense was shaky for much of 2016 and while it improved down the stretch, without Frei keeping things close Seattle may not have been in a position to make it to the postseason.

Brian Rowe: Rowe’s season flew under the radar, but he replaced Dan Kennedy, who was supposed to be LA’s No. 1, and never gave the team reason to go back to the veteran. Rowe’s save percentage was a league-best 77.4 percent, while his clip on shots taken inside the area was also tops among 'keepers with 20 games played, at 70.5 percent.