Washington Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe has been named the 2019 National Women’s Soccer League Goalkeeper of the Year, the league announced Friday. On Thursday, the goalkeeper received her first call-up to the U.S. women’s national team. Last week, Bledsoe was also named to the NWSL’s 2019 Best XI. The 28-year old becomes the first Washington […]

Washington Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe has been named the 2019 National Women’s Soccer League Goalkeeper of the Year, the league announced Friday. On Thursday, the goalkeeper received her first call-up to the U.S. women’s national team. Last week, Bledsoe was also named to the NWSL’s 2019 Best XI.The 28-year old becomes the first Washington Spirit goalkeeper to receive the award. The goalkeeper title was voted on by the club officials, players, media, and fans. Bledsoe started all 24 matches for Washington this season and logged 2,149 minutes of play. She ranked first in the league with 86 saves and ranked second among all league goalkeepers with nine shutouts, breaking her previous mark of four set in 2018. Bledsoe earned Save of the Week honors three times this season (Week 4, Week 12, Week 16) and was named Player of the Week twice (Week 4, Week 7). The Washington Spirit goalkeeper was tied for second in the league in goals-against average (1.04) and conceded 25 goals for a save percentage of 77.5%. Bledsoe is tied for seventh all-time among NWSL goalkeepers in shutouts (15) and holds the league record for saves in a single season (108). [Youtube oembed has failed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N11E1aZyQDs] Reign FC goalkeeper Casey Murphy and Sky Blue FC goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan finished in second and third, respectively, in goalkeeper voting this year.

The list of finalists was decided after a preliminary round of voting by owners, general managers, coaches, players and media. The finalists were then voted on by fans, owners, general managers, coaches, players and media.

Voting Breakdown:

Preliminary Round: Owners/GMs/Coaches (25%), Media (25%) and Players (50%)
Final Round: Fans (20%), Owners/GMs/Coaches (20%), Media (20%) and Players (40%)

List of NWSL Goalkeepers of the Year

2013: Nicole Barnhart, FC Kansas City 2014: Alyssa Naeher, Boston Breakers 2015: Michelle Betos, Portland Thorns FC 2016: Ashlyn Harris, Orlando Pride 2017: Adrianna Franch, Portland Thorns FC 2018: Adrianna Franch, Portland Thorns FC 2019: Aubrey Bledsoe, Washington Spirit