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February 1, 2010
MOVING INTO FAST LANE
Former backup Loyden ready to start
By Charles Cuttone
Executive Editor
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Jillian Loyden then of Saint Louis Athletica battles the Red Stars' Frida Östberg for a ball.
Photo courtsey of Saint Louis Athletica |
Coming out of college as a three-time Big East goalkeeper of the year, Jillian Loyden might have been a first year starter in Women’s Professional Soccer, save for the luck of the draft. The former Villanova ‘keeper was selected by Saint Louis Athletica, meaning she would be backing up U.S. National Team goalkeeper Hope Solo.
According to Loyden, that was not a bad thing for her career path.
“I got to train with the world’s best ‘keeper every day for the last five or six months in St. Louis,” she said. “It was so awesome. If I was going to have to back up anybody I would want to back up the world’s best. I learned so much from her.”
Loyden got an added benefit when U.S. WNT goalkeeper coach Paul Rogers joined the staff in St. Louis.
“ I was able to train with the U.S. National Team goalkeeper coach and the starting goalkeeper. It was the best possible scenario for me. I was able to learn so much and just develop my game in St. Louis. I’m so happy to be in that environment.”
Loyden got to make three starts for Saint Louis last season, while Solo was away on national team duty. She made six saves in her first start as Saint Louis defeated Chicago, 2-0, on May 23, 2009, at Toyota Park. She earned WPS Player of the Week for that performance, becoming the first goalkeeper in league history to earn the honor.
Her performance in the limited playing time got Loyden noticed on two fronts. The Chicago Red Stars, in need of a keeper after dropping last year’s starter Caroline Jonsson, traded national teamer Lindsay Tarpley to Athletica to get Loyden. She also got her first call to a U.S. National Team camp.
“Jill is a very underrated goalkeeper,” said Red Stars head coach Emma Hayes. “She’s definitely a starter. We’re delighted to get her. Jill will prove, in my opinion, of all the backup keepers last season, she’s the best one.”
In three games with Saint Louis, Loyden made 18 saves and allowed only one goal, for a 0.33 goals against average. Her two shutouts were tied for seventh best in the league, ahead of one regular starter and several backups who played more games.
“She’s more than able to step in as the #1 keeper,” said Hayes. “We’re very excited to get her. For those that have their doubt’s I think they’ll see she’s a top class ‘keeper.”
The timing is perfect for Loyden. Her getting the bit of playing time in Saint Louis and backing up Solo fit perfectly into Chicago’s vision.
“We made a very conscious decision we wouldn’t put a rookie in goal,” said Hayes.
After the WPS season, Loyden then spent the offseason in Australia with the Central Coast Mariners, where she was named the Westfield W-League Goalkeeper of the Year.
He performance in the WPS and down under got her noticed by National Team coach Pia Sundhage, who called her into camp earlier this month, a completely new experience for the 24-year-old Loyden.
“The first few days were tough,” she said. “My head was kind of spinning because I’ve never really played at this level before, where everyone is so quick and so technical and just the pace is so fast. Being in a new environment where I really didn’t know too many people was a little bit intimidating.”
Loyden quickly settled in, and hopes to get her first cap soon.
“Its always something that you dream of as a young player,” she said. “It was a goal. I wanted to work my hardest to give myself the best possible chance to get there and if it happened it happened and if it didn’t I would be ok with it, knowing that I had done everything that I could.
“It finally happened. I am just so excited to be here. I am so blessed to have this opportunity to be here. Not many people get this opportunity.”
No longer being a rookie, Loyden also is looking forward to getting into camp with the Red Stars, and earning her chops as a pro goalkeeper.
“I feel a lot more prepared and ready to step into that role, with the responsibility of being a starting goalkeeper and stepping into a team where they didn’t do as well last year and now having that experience I feel like I can bring a different effort to the team that can help them succeed,” she said.
Hayes thinks the new acquisition will more than fill the Red Stars’ needs.
“She’ll be a massive asset for the team,” said Hayes.
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