The second season is done and dusted, and Locomotive put to rest any doubts that it is one of the premier clubs in the USL Championship. Locos fought through an unprecedented year to a 13-game unbeaten streak, ending with an incredible second appearance in the Western Conference Final to make a lasting impression on the league.
Since the return to play, the Locos have broken through opposition and downed rivals with stellar saves, breathtaking goals, and a level of world-class professional soccer that only Locomotive can bring to the table. We have put together a shortlist of the best Goals, Saves, Locomotive Players, and Goal Celebrations; now it’s time for you, the fans, to cast your vote and decide who and what will claim the 2020 Fan Awards.
Locomotive FC boasted one of the most secure goals in the Western Conference, conceding only 14 goals through the regular season. Logan Ketterer lead the league in 2020 with 8 clean sheets across 16 games, meaning there were plenty of incredible saves to choose from. We have narrowed it down to the top five saves from not only Logan, but the defenders around him, and now it’s up to you, the fans, to decide who made the Save of the Year for 2020.
July feels like a lifetime ago, despite it only being a few short months, but who could forget the outstanding save made by Andrew Fox to keep New Mexico United from doubling their lead early on. After Logan’s massive save (which could be included on this shortlist in its own right), Fox stepped in to make a clearance ahead of what could have been a United goal.
It was the penalty stop that was heard across the borderland. After a grueling fight through 120 minutes against New Mexico United in the Western Conference Semifinal, it came down to a penalty shootout. The two sides traded goal for goal in the shoot out until United’s Romeo Parkes stepped up to the spot. Logan read the shot perfectly, making the penalty save that sent a thundering cheer throughout Southwest University Park from the limited 1,500 fans in attendance and booked Locomotive its ticket to the Western Conference Final.
An outstanding return to play put Locomotive in the perfect position to claim a playoff berth with a win over Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (paired with the Monarchs dropping points against Portland Timbers 2). Switchbacks didn’t exactly make it easy, putting Logan to the test. The El Paso Locomotive goalkeeper had the answers however, keeping momentum on his side with massive saves such as the one in the 63rd minute. Making the big save in the air, Logan snuffed out any chance of an attack with a catch and ultimately helping clinch Locomotive’s second consecutive playoff berth.
What started off as a poor pass on the Locomotive backline, turned into a massive clearance from Drew Beckie in one of his final performances in a Locomotive jersey. Beckie made a run to recover ground to be sure that the Switchbacks defense didn’t get its one-on-one opportunity with Logan Ketterer. Beckie’s speed put himself between the shot and Logan, to make an important clearance to keep the game level in the fight for the top of Group C.
Sometimes, a good save can come before a shot is even taken. Preemptively closing down the attack is one of – if not the – biggest plays a defender can make. With Devon Sandoval on the other end of a cross, it became crucial for Macca King to make the header before Sandoval had the opportunity to. King made the clearance to keep New Mexico United off the board and keep the fight for the top seed of Group C alive, a spot that Locomotive would go on to claim.