Dayne St. Clair strengthened his bid to become Canada’s top goalkeeper on Monday by clinching the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year accolade. The Minnesota United goalie triumphed over Matt Freese from New York City FC and Yohei Takaoka from the Vancouver Whitecaps in a vote cast by MLS clubs’ technical staff, first-team players, and select media.
Securing 29.4% of the total vote, St. Clair emerged as the clear winner, with Freese at 17.32% and Takaoka at 15.49%. Notably, St. Clair dominated the media vote with 47.46%, outperforming Takaoka’s 11.30% and Freese’s 5.65%. Conversely, Freese and Takaoka led the player portion with both at 20.37%, compared to St. Clair’s 18.52%, while Freese led the club vote with 25.93%, surpassing St. Clair’s 22.22% and Takaoka’s 14.81%.
Expressing his gratitude, St. Clair stated, “This has unquestionably been my most consistent and best year. However, I believe that I have not yet reached my peak. I am confident that I can continue to improve and surpass my current performance levels.”
This recognition adds to St. Clair’s accolades this season, having been selected for the MLS all-star team. Hailing from Pickering, Ontario, the 28-year-old now stands alongside Pat Onstad as the only Canadian to clinch the MLS goalkeeper award. Onstad, currently serving as the Houston Dynamo’s president of soccer, secured the award in 2003 and ’05 while playing for the San Jose Earthquakes.
St. Clair, a rival for the Canadian starting goalkeeper position, has earned 17 caps for Canada with eight clean sheets. Looking ahead to the World Cup in 2025, he emphasized the significance of his performance this season in determining his role for the national team.
Minnesota United is set to face Seattle in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series. St. Clair, who served as backup for Milan Borjan at the 2022 World Cup, has showcased exceptional performance, registering high statistics in saves, shutouts, and wins throughout the season. Playing behind a solid defense, St. Clair’s outstanding contributions have been pivotal in the team’s success this year.
As the second Minnesota United player to receive this honor, following Vito Mannone in 2019, St. Clair’s journey from his collegiate success at the University of Maryland to his current achievements exemplifies his dedication and talent in the realm of professional soccer.