Orlando City SC has added another player to its roster with less than two weeks before the start of the 2019 Major League Soccer season.
On Feb. 22, the Lions announced they signed goalkeeper Brian Rowe. The 2019 season will be Rowe’s eighth.
“Brian is a guy that brings a tremendous amount of experience to our team, and we are thrilled to welcome him officially to the club,” Lions Executive Vice President of Soccer Operations Luiz Muzzi said, per the release.
Rowe started his MLS career with the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2012. After recording 37 saves and allowing 16 goals in 14 appearances from 2013 to 2015, Rowe became the go-to starter for the Galaxy in 2016.
That season, he finished third in the league in saves and shutouts with 113 and nine, respectively. Rowe’s 33 allowed goals were the fewest by a goalkeeper who played in at least 30 matches, too.
In 2017, Rowe only played in 14 matches and allowed 23 goals with two shutouts. He was subsequently traded to the Vancouver Whitecaps where, in 2018, Rowe started 10 matches, allowed 22 goals and recorded no shutouts.
The Lions parted ways with two of their longtime goalkeepers this offseason: 29-year-old Joe Bendik and 27-year-old Earl Edwards Jr. In their stead, two new goalkeepers were added to the Lions’ roster: former Louisville City FC keeper Greg Ranjitsingh and now, officially, Rowe.
Rowe most recently helped hold New York City FC to one goal in a 2-1, preseason win on Feb. 16. Ranjitsingh and his back line held the New England Revolution scoreless for 80 minutes in a 6-2, preseason win on Feb. 20.
Orlando City also have goalkeepers Adam Grinwis and Mason Stajduhar under contract. Grinwis featured in five games in his first campaign last season, recording a shutout, 14 saves and allowing six goals.
City open their season on March 2 at 2:30 p.m. when they host NYCFC.
For more on the Lions, as they finalize their roster ahead of the start of the 2019 campaign, follow Victor Tan on Twitter at @NDR_VictorTan.
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