Ryan Meara out for the year

The New York Red Bulls MLS campaign will continue (all the way to MLS Cup?) but it will go on without Ryan Meara. The surprise starting goalkeeper had season-ending arthroscopic surgery on his left hip to fix damage from an injury he suffered in June. Meara hadn’t played since June 19.

Bill Gaudette will stand between the pipes for NYRB with Luis Robles backing up the Pennsylvania-born, Puerto Rican-loving netminder. And just think, we were all laughing a few weeks ago when the club had like 47 goalkeepers on the roster. Perhaps they knew more about the extent of Meara’s injury than they were letting on. Then again, maybe they just wanted to have a goalkeeper party.

Anyway, back to Meara. It’s too bad to see him go, but it was a very good year. Shall we go to the release for details about his successful debut campaign? Let’s do that:

After being drafted in the second round (31st overall) in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft from Fordham University, Meara earned the starting role in preseason and was a midseason candidate for MLS Rookie of the Year, starting in 18 games for New York and earning a 9-5-4 record and a 1.50 goals against average. The Yonkers, NY native set the shutout record earlier this year for a rookie goalkeeper, not conceding a goal in 321 minutes while helping the Red Bulls earn a five-match winning streak from April 28 to May 19.

Hopefully he’ll return next season ready to go. There’s no reason to think that he won’t. Anyone feeling some A.J. Soares parallels? Promising, albeit a bit surprising, start. Season ended early due to injury. All that’s left for Meara is the even better sophomore year.

FYI: Larry Bird won an NBA Championship in his second season. Go doppelganger, go.