NEW YORK (Monday, June 10, 2024) – New England Revolution goalkeeper Aljaž Ivačič was voted the Major League Soccer Player of the Matchday for Matchday 19 of the 2024 MLS season.
Ivačič stopped all five shots for New England in the club’s 1-0 shutout victory at home over the New York Red Bulls on Matchday 19. For just the second time in his MLS career, Ivačič produced at least five saves in a clean sheet victory after previously doing so for the Portland Timbers on September 10, 2022, against Minnesota United FC. The Slovenian was the only goalkeeper in MLS on Matchday 19 to produce a win and clean sheet, as the Red Bulls amassed 1.00 expected goals without hitting the back of the net. New England has won each of their last two matches with Ivačič in net, conceding just one goal, which was from a penalty kick on Matchday 18.
Ivačič made two key saves in the first half when he comfortably stopped long-range efforts from Dante Vanzeir in the 7th minute and Frankie Amaya in the 24th minute (Watch Here). With the game tied in the 81st minute, New England broke the deadlock as Carles Gil produced his 66th career assist when he floated a cross to the back post, which Emmanuel Boateng finished with a one-timed volley to ultimately give the Revolution the victory (Watch Here).
This is the first time Ivačič has been named MLS Player of the Matchday in his career and he is the first goalkeeper to earn the honor since Minnesota United’s Dayne St. Clair on Matchday 3 of 2022. The last New England player to take home an MLS Player of the Matchday honor was midfielder Carles Gil on Matchday 16 in 2023.
New England and Ivačič look to make it three wins in a row when they host Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Gillette Stadium for the first time since 2019 on Saturday, June 15 (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).
The MLS Player of the Matchday is selected each matchday of the regular season through both media and fan voting in a process conducted by MLS Communications. A panel of journalists from the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) comprises 75 percent of the vote, while an X (formerly known as Twitter) fan vote represents the remaining 25 percent of voting. NASR consists of members of print, television, radio, and online media.
