Zack Steffen has quickly made a name for himself since leaving Maryland men’s soccer in 2014. On Tuesday, the 23-year-old goalkeeper was named the U.S. National Team’s Male Player of the Year.
Steffen made his national team debut in January and subsequently made five starts throughout the year. He allowed just 1.27 goals per match and posted two shutouts, but the signature performance came on June 9 against France, who was tuning up for what would become a World-Cup winning run. Steffen made seven saves in a 1-1 draw. Team USA didn’t qualify for the 2018 World Cup, but Steffen has established himself as its goalie of the future.