I didn't start playing goal until my sophomore year of high school; I was a center forward up until then -- when you score a goal, it's kind of like a team thing because everyone has been working up to it. It's kind of that elation that everybody's work is coming together. A goalie making a save is just kind of individual. It's a guy, if he makes a good tackle, he gets up and starts taunting or doing something like that."
His save celebration:
"I don't see it happening. ... You want to remain as calm as possible so your teammates don't think you're going to flip out back there or the other team is thinking, 'Gee, that guy is really unstable. We've got to start thinking shooting from just about anywhere.' "
Most memorable save:
"Definitely the two saves against Columbus (two penalty-kick saves in the first round of the 2004 playoffs). Even though the game ended up being a tie, it helped us through to the next round."
Jonny Walker, Columbus Crew:
How he feels after a big save:
"I don't know about anyone else. I'm not overly ecstatic. I know a lot of guys, you see them do a celebration. Maybe it's a surge of adrenaline going through them. I'm much more reserved and concentrating on getting the distribution the distribution out. You know the old saying: The play doesn't finish until the ball leaves the goalkeeper's hands and your teammate has the ball. Then after that, you kind of replay of what happened in your mind. I did well there. It's nothing too crazy. Maybe sometimes in a game where there is a tied game, the other team comes down and you make a save, a good save, then your team turns around and scores. Then you seem to think in your mind it was a big save because you stole a goal and scored a goal. It's a big swing."
His save celebration:
"By the nature of the position, you learn through time to control yourself. You're not too excited when you do well and you don't beat yourself up when you get scored on. ... That's maybe why when you make a good save, you don't do cartwheels of whatever because you know two minutes later, there could be a shot right at you and it could go right through your hands. It happens. You kind of learn through the experience of the position that things can change so quickly. You're probably thankful you made the save. It's a concentration factor. You're on to the next thing."
Zach Wells, MetroStars
His most memorable save:
"It might have been my save on Brian Ching (vs.) San Jose. It was the first time I really had to make a good save. It was that or the penalty save I made on (the Crew's) Kyle Martino. It kind of changed the complexion of that game. Those were the first two that really gave me confidence and let me know that I deserved to be here."
His save celebration:
"Nothing contrived. It's just whatever happens, happens. It's all kind of spontaneous. I'm not even thinking about it as I'm doing it. It's just whatever. It's a nice release, though."
Kevin Hartman, Los Angeles Galaxy
His most memorable save:
"I don't think anybody will probably remember because I think you have to be a goalkeeper to kind of appreciate it. I know there was a save on Stern John when he was at the peak of his career in MLS. He had an open header from six to seven yards out and he headed it low end into the ground and into the lower corner and I was able to reach back behind me and pull it out, somehow get it around the post. It was something that stands out in my mind as my best save as a professional 'keeper."
His save celebration:
"I think its something that you celebrate with the defenders who are coming back into spaces. Once you tip the ball around the corner they're kind of giving you congratulations. I am kind of celebrating with my teammates and really giving them the opportunity to feel I am behind them and let them have confidence to have confidence that I am on my game that night."
Tony Meola, MetroStars
Most memorable save:
"The game that stands out is the (2000) finals because I did it when it really mattered (for Kansas City in the MLS cup final). The one save stands out was in '97 against Chris Henderson in Colorado. He thought it was pretty much in and everyone thought it was in. He threw his arms up in the air. I took it out of the upper corner and he puts his hands on his head. He's disgusted."
His save celebration:
"I'm excited. You don't have a lot of time. It's not like goalscorers, where you can have a big celebration. You've got to get right back to business. You don't have a lot of time.
"The most important are the ones when you need them. Even those are not the best saves, you needed to make the save right there. It's the timing. Those are the ones I get a thrill out of. It's not necessarily you're winning 3-0 and you make some great saves. It's almost irrelevant. The ones when the momentum is changing and you need a save, those are the ones I like."
Nick Rimando, D.C. United
How he feels after making a big save:
"I think sometimes your emotions take over. For me, you almost want to jump up and celebrate. But it's a kick in the butt if you save this one, but two minutes later they score again. It's almost like the striker -- whoever scores -- will see you celebrating. After that, if he scores, then he gets you right back. Just wait until the end of the game to celebrate. Hope everything goes well in the game. But again, there are some games it comes down to the last minute and you make that save. And you let your feelings go and your team gets pumped from it."
His save celebration:
"Depending on when you make that save. If you hit it out, great. If it's a diving save in the corner and for a corner, you have to be prepared. What happens if they score a goal, what are you celebrating? You can't. You got to wait until the end."
His most memorable save:
"Clint Dempsey last year in the semifinals that is when I did get to celebrate (saving his PK in the shootout vs. New England). That was the last play of the game. I got to celebrate and it felt great."
Brad Guzan, Chivas USA
How he feels after making a big save:
"Obviously, it's a good feeling any time you can help out the team. It's part of your job. Being able to help them out puts a good feeling inside me, especially when its in a crucial point of the game, being able to help the team stay in the game and being anyway I can getting the result."
His save celebration:
"You definitely have to keep your composure. The game is 90 minutes. Whether you make the save in the first five minutes or the last five minutes, you have to be ready to play. After that save, the game goes on."
Michael Lewis writes about soccer for the New York Daily News and is editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has covered MLS since its inception. He can be reached at SoccerWriter516@aol.com. Lewis will only answer e-mails and letters that have names or are signed. Views and opinions expressed in this column are the author's, and not necessarily those of Major League Soccer or MLSnet.com.
