CARSON, Calif. - To say that Los Angeles Galaxy goalie Kevin Hartman has ridden a rollercoaster of both personal achievements and overall frustration in 2005 is an understatement. He reached an MLS milestone and set a benchmark for future 'keepers in MLS to strive for, while at the same time struggling to keep a mix-and-match defense organized for the length of the season.
On June 11 against Real Salt Lake, Hartman reached the 100-win mark for his career. In doing so he became the first goalkeeper in MLS history to eclipse the century mark. It was only fitting that the win came via a shutout, as the veteran netminder has more than 50 shutouts under his belt as well.
Shutouts this year have been harder to come by though. Hartman has six clean sheets on the year, one coming in a 0-0 draw against Columbus early in the year. It hasn't been the best effort of his career, but certainly not his worst.
The goals Hartman has allowed always seemed to come at inopportune times - as if there is ever an opportune time to give up a goal. But that served as a disheartening reminder of the difficulty he's had trying to organize a patchwork back four.
"It's been a frustrating season. We never really sorted out the back," said Hartman. "We played 32 games, and even in the last one, we gave up goals where opponents were unmarked within eight yards of the goal. It has been hard to get everyone on the same page."
The task was made especially difficult this summer when the back line was decimated by injuries and national team call-ups. Rookies had to step in - and at times played like rookies. Players in their first year in MLS had to step in and were battling language barriers as much as they were battling opposition strikers.
Through it all, Hartman came up huge for his team on some occasions, and at times he also struggled. His play was good enough though to again grab the attention of U.S. national team coach Bruce Arena, who on multiple occasions called him into the U.S. camp this season. All the time he's spent with the national team has put him one step closer to another career milestone.
"For me, making the 2006 World Cup team is a huge goal. However, it doesn't supersede the fact that I want to win championships with this team," said Hartman. "Winning the U.S. Open Cup was a great thing for us. I think it justified some of the things that we had been doing this season. Obviously you still want to have success at the national team level. In fact, there is a camp here in January."
Before January rolls around, Hartman will have a chance to try and guide his club to a second MLS Cup.
"Now we have to make sure we put everything aside and try to win the double, which would be a great feather in our cap if we could pull it off," he said. "Especially considering all the frustrations we have endured week to week."
Greg Daurio is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
