Igor Shesterkin – Rangers
The Rangers picked up their first two wins of the year in Canada. After a blowout on opening night in DC, the Rangers picked up 5 of 6 possible points, and their fantastic goalkeeping has been a big reason why.
The hero in Montreal and Toronto was Igor Shesterkin, who pushed aside 73 of the 75 shots he faced. In the final minutes of a tight 1-1 battle with the Leafs, Shesterkin made some miraculous saves to send the game to overtime, where he continued his magic, even making a stop 20 feet from his net.
The Rangers found the winner, with Artemi Panarin scoring his first of the year. The win gives the Rangers a solid start to the season, and with how tight the Metropolitan Division was last season, every point counts.
CARLOS CORONEL – red bulls
Another big Hudson River Derby win pushed the Red Bulls level with their crosstown rivals, holding NYCFC to just one goal over the three matches. Again it was Carlos Coronel standing firm in goal for the Red Bulls to halt a NYCFC offense that’s been losing more and more steam each week.
Coronel only made two saves in the match, but they were both impressive stops that kept his team ahead. It’s the 11th clean sheet for Coronel this season and the Red Bulls’ fifth in their last seven games.
If they keep up this solid defense and get more timely goals, the playoffs are definitely within reach for a Red Bulls side that’s starting to look dangerous.
Lucas Bartlett – St Johns
St John’s has been working hard to stay near the top of the Big East standings, a difficult task with so many teams performing well.
The biggest part in the Johnnies’ success has been their defense, which leads the division in shutouts and goals against average, and is tied for the lead in goals allowed.
Graduate defender Lucas Bartlett helped St John’s secure yet another clean sheet, also earning individual honors.
Bartlett was named to TopDrawerSoccer’s Top 100 players to watch list, and Bartlett is certainly one to keep an eye on with a pro career possibly looming ahead.
