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California: What If Your State Had a National Team?

By Marc McCormack

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Sep 19, 2014; Sandy, UT, USA; Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando (18) looks on against the Colorado Rapids at Rio Tinto Stadium. Real Salt Lake won 5-1. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

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Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake), Dan Kennedy (FC Dallas), Stefan Frei (Seattle Sounders)

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    • California’s goalkeeping pool is deep, and Coach Bruce Arena has three prime keepers to choose from.  Ultimately, the answer is obvious, and Nick Rimando likely would get the call up, as he has been one of the more solid keepers in MLS over the course of his career.  Plus he is the only one of the three to be in the national team picture.  But both Kennedy and Frei would easily be starters in almost any other state.  With Rimando’s extensive experience at club and international levels as well as his avid PK-stopping ability, he’s the obvious choice.  He’s also the most decorated of the three, boasting a Gold Cup Championship with the USMNT, as well as 2 MLS Championships, 4 All Star Appearances, an MVP award, and 3 Conference Championships.

    Frei has been more than capable in his first year in net for Seattle.  The Swiss-born keeper spent the majority of his childhood in California, attending UC-Berkeley and playing semi-pro ball in San Francisco and San Jose before being picked up by Toronto in 2009.  Dan Kennedy’s goals against average may not be great, having played for Chivas USA since 2008.  But he was the team’s sole bright spot before their disbandment.  Let’s just say it’s no coincidence he was taken first overall by Dallas in the dispersal draft.

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