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SBI MLS Player of the Month (March): Faryd Mondragon

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Photo by Tony Quinn/ISIphotos.com

Last season, the Philadelphia Union's defense was a comedy of errors, unable to stay organized and a sure bet to have a few cataclysmic mistakes every match.

Enter Faryd Mondragon into the fold.

The veteran Colombian goalkeeper has made quite the impact in his first few matches with the Union, earning the captain's armband and guiding the club to two 1-0 shutouts in March en route to earning SBI's Player of the Month honors. To put things in perspective, the Union had two clean sheets all of last season. Now the club sits atop the Eastern Conference standings.

Mondragon had to make just six saves total in March games against Houston and Vancouver, but his positioning and ability to organize a defense that is now a stingy, respectable unit has been rather impressive.

Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando was named MLS' official Player of the Month over the weekend, for his role in backstopping RSL to a 1-0 victory over San Jose and a 4-1 thrashing of the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Between Mondragon, Rimando, Juninho, Shalrie Joseph, Javier Morales, Diego Chaves and Charlie Davies, among others, there were definitely some qualified candidiates for the monthly award.

Who do you think had the best March? Cast your vote here:

 

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How did you vote?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. he has definitely help us with the back line. He is so much better then Seitz. As a union supporter is nice to see us stopping attacks unlike last year. Hopefully he sticks around for a while.

    Reply
  2. A lot of good performances in the first month, but though he didn’t play right away, Teal Bunbury has been outstanding his first two games. Three goals and surely more to come.

    Personally, I think he has a chance to overtake Altidore in the next year or two and outperform Agudelo. Bundbury is faster than Altidore and shows better finishing ability. His first goal vs. Vancouver was pure quality and the mark of a natural striker. And while Bunbury doesn’t have Agudelo’s feet or rare instincts, he is more athletic and polished at this stage. I like the idea of a Bunbury-Agudelo pairing, with Altidore and maybe a healthy Davies off the bench.

    Reply
  3. Mondragon has always been a brilliant keeper. As a DC fan with a Colombian fiancee, I’d of liked to see him at DC to finish off the diamond that is Hamid.

    He’ll put two solid years in for Philly and call it quits. If Philly are lucky, he’ll move into a coaching role.

    Reply
  4. As a fire fan, I had to vote for Chaves, but did he really deserve to be on this list? Puerari has been better for the fire, and I’m sure there are forwards for other teams that had a better month (I realize davies and morales are on the list as well).

    Reply
  5. I think the pair of CCL games in March were taken into account when giving the nod to Rimando. That being said, on MLS alone, I don’t think Rimando should get it because the only goal RSL allowed this season was on a miscue from him.

    Reply

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