Photo: Terrance Coakley / Orlando Soccer Journal

Heading into the 2019 regular season, Orlando City put an emphasis on correcting its defensive woes after a record-setting 74 goals conceded in 2018.

The Lions offloaded Joe Bendik and Earl Edwards Jr. and replaced them with experienced MLS goalkeeper Brian Rowe and Greg Ranjitsingh of USL Championship side Louisville City.

Adam Grinwis and homegrown Mason Stajduhar remained, but playing time for both was hard to come by as Grinwis appeared mostly in the U.S. Open Cup and Stajduhar was loaned down to USL Championship side Tulsa Roughnecks.

Below are the OSJ’s 2019 goalkeeper reviews: 

Brian Rowe — After being signed after his trial with the team back in March, no one knew what to expect from the veteran MLS keeper, but Brian Rowe proved many of his doubters wrong in his first season with the Lions. Statistically speaking, he had a decent with seven shutouts, and 110 saves, while only allowing 49 goals, the least amount of goals conceded in team history. He may not have been a flashy keeper and still had his pitfalls, but overall, Rowe was a very capable keeper throughout the season for Orlando. 

Greg Ranjitsingh — Ranjitsingh’s first season in MLS was nothing to write home about, as the former Louisville City FC starter only made two appearances for the Lions in 2019, both on the road, in a 2-1 loss to the Seattle Sounders and 1-1 draw with the Portland Timbers.

Adam Grinwis — The second-year goalkeeper did not make any appearances in MLS for Orlando City in 2019, but instead made all four appearances in the Lions’ U.S. Open Cup. His clutch performance during a penalty shootout against NYCFC in the quarterfinals of the Open Cup was arguably the highlight of his season with the Lions, converting the game-winning save to deny Maxime Chanot from the spot, sending Orlando through to the semifinals of the tournament before losing to eventual champions, Atlanta United. 

Mason Stajduhar — Sidelined with a cancer diagnosis last season, 2019 was Stajduhar’s first opportunity to see pro minutes since signing a Homegrown Player contract with Orlando City in 2015 as he spent most of the season on loan with the USL’s Tulsa Roughnecks. He started 17 games for Tulsa, making 48 saves and conceding 36 goals on 84 shots. Stajduhar will be 22 at the start of the preseason in January and could see himself in contention for backup minutes with Orlando City next season.

Editor’s note: Mike Gramajo, Austin David and Gavin Ewbank contributed to the article.

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