Dayne St. Clair reinforced his position as a top Canadian goalkeeper by clinching the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award on Monday. The Minnesota United goalie outperformed Matt Freese from New York City FC and Yohei Takaoka from the Vancouver Whitecaps in the voting process involving MLS clubs’ technical staff, first-team players, and select media.
St. Clair secured 29.4% of the total vote, with Freese at 17.32% and Takaoka at 15.49%. Notably, he dominated the media segment of the voting with 47.46%, while Freese and Takaoka led in the player segment with 20.37% each. In the club vote, Freese took the lead with 25.93% compared to St. Clair’s 22.22% and Takaoka’s 14.81%.
Expressing his gratitude, St. Clair acknowledged that this season has been his most consistent and best yet, emphasizing his belief in further improvement. This recognition adds to his achievements, having previously been selected for the MLS all-star team.
Hailing from Pickering, Ontario, the 28-year-old now joins Pat Onstad as the only Canadian to win the MLS goalkeeper award. Looking ahead, St. Clair has his sights set on the upcoming World Cup, highlighting the significance of his performance in the current season in shaping his role for the national team.
St. Clair, who has earned 17 caps for Canada with eight clean sheets, is gearing up for the World Cup after his stint as a backup at the 2022 tournament in Qatar. The Canadian men’s team, ranked 28th, is set to conclude their 2025 schedule with matches against Ecuador and Venezuela.
In the ongoing MLS playoffs, St. Clair and Minnesota will face Seattle in the second game of their first-round series. Behind a formidable Minnesota defense, St. Clair showcased his prowess by achieving personal highs in saves, shutouts, and wins during the regular season.
Minnesota’s exceptional season included setting records for wins, points, and defensive performance. St. Clair’s remarkable campaign was pivotal in the team’s success, contributing to their best-ever road record and franchise milestones. Having excelled since his collegiate days at the University of Maryland, St. Clair continues to make his mark in the soccer world.
