Clearly it’s an impossible task to neatly narrow down 150 years into 100 names so we’d be in error to overlook early pioneers like Patrick Hughes (Clark ONT’s stellar goalkeeping from 1884-1889) and J. Crossan Cooper (Princeton’s three-time All-American goalkeeper from 1920-1922). In the early part of the 20th century, goalkeepers like Cooper had limited availability to play, thus making international tournaments not only exciting and novel but also a rare moment for goalkeepers to really test their mettle. Goalkeepers like Archie Strimel (1948 Olympics) and even - what should have been - 1980 Olympic goalkeepers Paul Coffee and Peter Arnautoff should be remembered for being as good as they were, despite the lowered ceiling that was dropped on them.
Although the 1920’s was a bright spot for American soccer, the second ASL that followed after the Great Depression is largely overlooked in favor of the NASL or MLS, despite the league producing standout goalkeeping with Bob Yingling (4x trophy winner in the ASL during the 40’s and 50’s), Johnny Hamm (3x National Challenge Cup finalist), and Steve Rozbora (1945 ASL MVP and triple crown winner). Digging deeper leads us to the likes of Chuck Tengler (Cleveland’s perennial goalkeeper throughout the 1940’s), John Bryndza, George “Beef” Davis (contemporary ASL goalkeepers in the 1930’s and 40’s).
On the women’s side, early collegiate stars included Heather Taggart, Karen Richter, and Lori Kats (the first All-American goalkeeper in women’s soccer). And then looking outside the box a bit, American soccer history must recognize Karen Bardsley, who was born in the US but went on to be the number one goalkeeper for England’s national team.
For overlooked stars on the men’s side at the same time, we have highly acclaimed goalkeepers Randy Phillips (3x All-American 1978-80), Jamie Swanner (1983 NCAA GOTY), and Victor Nogueira (2011 Indoor Soccer HOF inductee) paving the way for MLS stalwarts like Scott Garlick, Adin Brown, and Matt Jordan. And of course, rising stars like Angelina Anderson and Jordan Silkowitz follow in the footsteps of Bella Bixby and Melissa Moore as they continue to carve out a career for themselves. From Nogueira to Anderson, each goalkeeper battled year-to-year uncertainty when navigating the professional scene yet persevered in net, showcasing their talent for whichever team was lucky enough to have them.
And lastly, some goalkeepers just didn’t get enough time for one reason or another, despite showcasing an immense level of skill. From Frank Bartkus (1936 Olympics) to Orlando Jorge (1950’s ASL standout) to Mark Dulle (1987 U16) to Phil Marfuggi (2003 U17) to Katie Meyer (2019 NCAA Champion), each goalkeeper - and several not named - is remembered fondly by those who were close to the individual, by teammates and family members alike.
The more you dig into the country’s history of goalkeeping, the more amazing stories and people you can find. A career in soccer has long been a difficult pathway for most of our country’s history. Whether it was the Soccer Wars in the 1920s, the dark times between stable professional leagues, or the early attempts at professional women’s soccer, goalkeepers continued their personal journey of stepping between the posts and playing the position most people avoid like the plague. This list of 100 goalkeepers and a handful of honorable mentions only scratches the surface of a deeper history that has always been the backbone of American soccer. Look at any accomplishment in American soccer and you’ll find great goalkeeping nearby.
Main Page
Goalkeepers 1-10
Goalkeepers 11-20
Goalkeepers 21-30
Goalkeepers 31-40
Goalkeepers 41-50
Goalkeepers 51-60
Goalkeepers 61-70
Goalkeepers 71-80
Goalkeepers 81-90
Goalkeeper 91-100
Honorable Mentions