Tuesday, December 1, 2009

WHITECAPS GOALKEEPER JAY NOLLY SIGNS NEW DEAL

VANCOUVER, BC - Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced today that they have re-signed Jay Nolly. The goalkeeper has agreed to a new one-year deal - plus an option - with the North American Soccer League outfit.

Nolly, 27, will be entering his third season with the 'Caps in 2010, having initially joined the club on January 24, 2008. During his first two years with Vancouver, the shot-stopper has amassed a 31W-21L-18D record in 71 appearances for 6,355 minutes of action. This includes 23 shutouts and a goals-against average of 1.16.

Last season, the native of Littleton, Colorado, was named the Whitecaps Most Valuable Player after playing in every minute (3,600) of the club's 40 United Soccer Leagues First Division (USL-1) and Nutrilite Canadian Championship matches. His efforts made him the first Whitecaps goalkeeper to play every minute in a single season since Arnie Mausser achieved the feat during the 1977 NASL campaign. Nolly compiled a 16W-13L-11D record in 2009, earning 12 shutouts and a goals-against average of 1.18. This included three clean sheets and a goals-against average of 0.25 in the Nutrilite Canadian Championship, as well as some stellar performances during the Whitecaps playoff run to the USL-1 Championship Series.

In his first season with the 'Caps, Nolly was named 2008 Whitecaps Defender of the Year after recording 11 shutouts in 31 appearances. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound keeper was instrumental in leading the men's team to their second USL-1 Championship title in three seasons that year.

Before joining the Whitecaps, Nolly spent three years in Major League Soccer with Real Salt Lake and D.C. United after being selected by RSL in the second round (22nd overall) of the 2005 MLS SuperDraft. At Indiana University, Nolly was instrumental in helping Indiana win back-to-back NCAA Division I championship titles in 2003 and 2004.

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