Racing Louisville star Katie Lund is one of three finalists for the NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year award, the league announced Tuesday.
Fan voting for the award opens at 12 p.m. Tuesday and runs through 12 p.m. ET Friday. Supporters can vote for Lund, in addition to the league’s other individual awards and the NWSL Best XI and Best XI Second Team, presented by MasterCard, via this link.
Lund, 26, is coming off a second consecutive standout season, surpassing her breakthrough 2022 campaign in a number of ways. The Texas native played every minute across both the regular season and UKG NWSL Challenge Cup, helping Louisville reach the Cup final while being named to the Challenge Cup All-Tournament Team. She was one of only seven players in the league to play every regular season minute.
In 22 regular season starts, Lund registered six shutouts while posting an 78.6% save percentage with 89 saves. She ranked second in the league in punches (11) and third in catches (20) despite opponents trying the fourth-fewest crosses per game against Racing. Her double save against the Orlando Pride on May 6 earned her NWSL Save of the Week honors.
Just Women’s Sports named Lund goalkeeper of the year in its end-of-season awards.
Advanced goalkeeping analytics show the depths of Lund’s success this season compared to the rest of the league.
According to data site American Soccer Analysis, the goals added (G+) metric shows Lund faced significantly more difficult-to-save shots this season than the other two finalists for Goalkeeper of the Year and still led the league in shot stopping and claiming.
Another analytics outlet, Field of Vision, named Lund its Golden Glove winner after she posted the league’s best goals minus expected goals number.
Lund was named a Goalkeeper of the Year finalist after weighted voting from players; owners/general managers and coaches; media; and fans. The final round of voting weights the ballots by players (40%), owners/GMs/coaches (25%), media (25%) and fans (10%).
Award winners will be announced in the days surrounding the 2023 NWSL Championship match on Nov. 11 in San Diego.
