Sky Blue Photo/Robyn McNeil

by TOM SLATER

The brightest spot for the 2015 Sky Blue FC has turned into the biggest void in 2016.

According to several reports, Sky Blue FC goalkeeper Brittany Caneron – easily the most consistent player for Sky Blue last year and voted Most Valuable Player by the club – is headed to Japan on a full-time basis.

According to the international newspaper Vavel, Cameron will remain with Japanese Club Vegalta Sendai for the 2016 season. Cameron was on loan with the club the last two seasons after the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) finished.

That leaves 29th draft pick Caroline Casey out of William and Mary as the lone goalkeeper on the Sky Blue FC roster. In the off-season, last year’s backup keeper Aubrey Bledsoe was left unprotected in the expansion draft and was picked up by Orlando.

Cameron was voted Sky Blue FC MVP after being the only NWSL goalkeeper to appear in all 20 matches of the 2015 regular season, playing a league-high 1792 of a possible 1800 minutes. The California native led the NWSL with 87 saves, which was 33 more than any other goalkeeper in the league. The number gave her an average of 4.35 saves per game, also an NWSL best. Additionally, Cameron registered four shutouts and gave up one or less goals in 13 matches over the course of the 2015 season.

Casey was an All-American her senior year with an .088 goal-against average with 11 shutouts.

Rookie coach Christy Holly will surely pick up at least one goalkeeper before camp starts in March but what was once a strong point is now a vulnerability.