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Audrey Bledsoe wins 2021 NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year

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Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

The Washington Spirit’s Aubrey Bledsoe is once again the NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year.

It’s Bledsoe’s second-straight Goalkeeper of the Year award after having been tabbed the top goaltender in the league following the 2019 regular season. (The award was not given out in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.)

The goalkeeper started in all 22 of the regular-season matches she appeared, holding down the net with a 79.8 distribution rate and a 78.8 percent save clip while saving 78 shots on the year. Through seven clean sheets, she held the last line of defense for a team that conceded less than a goal a game on average throughout the season.

In October, Bledsoe recorded 20 saves and three clean sheets as the Spirit went an undefeated 4-0-1 on the month.

Interestingly, Bledsoe was not named to the NWSL Best XI first or second team. The goalkeeper nods instead went to NJ/NY Gotham FC keeper Kailen Sheridan and Portland Thorns FC goaltender Bella Bixby who finished second and third in voting for Goalkeeper of the Year, respectively.