Rick Pflasterer

What Scouts Say: "Strong goalkeeper ... One of the better goalkeepers we've faced in recent years ... He's not that big and he's not physically imposing, but he always got the job done … Always looked competent and always looked like a good shot-stopper ... Good timing, smart and cuts down angles well … Can get to the corners ... He doesn't get tested as much because of the way Cornell plays and their centerbacks are big and can handle serivce ... Cuts off angles and has good command of the box ... Pretty good feet ... Whatever is thrown at him, he always handles well ... Never saw MLS-level athleticism but his stats speak for themselves."

College (Cornell): As a Senior (2012)
Pflasterer continued to shine for the Big Red, starting in every game and breaking the school record for wins in a season (15). His goals against average was again below 1.00, and he earned five shutouts on the year. For his excellent play, he was named the All-Ivy First Team goaltender for the second consecutive year. He had a season-high seven saves in a crucial double overtime victory against Dartmouth on Nov. 3, and ended his career by helping the team to its first NCAA Tournament contest since 1996. He leaves Cornell with the eighth-most saves in team history (165), the second-most wins (28), third-lowest goals against average (0.77) and second-most shutouts (17).

Junior Season (2011)
Pflasterer started in 15 of 16 games for the Big Red, missing the season finale with an injury. But before that final week, he was stellar, leading the Ivy League in goals against average (0.598) and hovering around the national top 10 in that category. Pflasterer allowed just nine goals in 15 games, played 1,354 minutes and made 37 saves. Pflasterer set a Cornell single-season record with his goals against average, is currently third all-time at Cornell with a career 0.78 goals against average. He tallied six shutouts and 81 minutes of a seventh team shutout in his junior season.

Sophomore Season (2010)
Pflasterer started 15 of the 16 games on the year for the Big Red, and posted the sixth-best single-season goals-against average in program history. He allowed fewer than one goal per game and recorded four shutouts, tying him for 10th in a single season. He made a season-high in saves with seven in a loss to Vermont on Sept. 12, while recording six in a loss to Brown on Oct. 23. Along with posting four shutouts - against Canisius (Sept. 19), Binghamton (Spet. 26), Colgate (Oct. 12) and Columbia (Nov. 13) - Pflasterer only allowed two goals in a game three times.

Freshman Season (2009)
Pflasterer exploded onto the scene as a freshman, earning honorable mention All-Ivy League accolades for his play in the second half of the season. He made his collegiate debut with 4:42 of relief against nationally ranked Monmouth on Sept. 18, and came on for the second half of the Big Red's 4-3 loss to Yale on Oct. 17. Three days later, he made his first career start with a season-best 11 saves in a scoreless draw against Lafayette. He followed that up with another strong outing, stopping five of six shots in a loss to Brown four days later. Pflasterer then recorded his second tie on Oct. 31 at Princeton, picking up another 10 saves in the 1-1 draw. Pflasterer closed out his season with his second shutout of the year, stopping five shots in an overtime win against Columbia on Nov. 13. He finished the season with a 1-3-2 record to go along with a .867 save percentage and a 0.99 goals-against average.

Club: Pflasterer played club soccer with the Derby County Wolves of the US Soccer Development Academy, winning four straight State Cup championships and being twice named the State Cup most valuable goalkeeper. He also won a Region II championship and was a finalist at the national championships in 2007.

High School: Huron High School. Pflasterer was a two-time all-state selection in Michigan, earning second-team honors as a senior to go along with all-region, district, conference and area accolades. He was a three-time team most valuable player and a two-time team captain while earning scholar-athlete honors all four years.

Personal: James Frederick Pflasterer is the son of James and Nancy Pflasterer and has two older sisters. He is enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences.