With the 4-0 thrashing of Ottawa Fury FC, Louisville City recorded its 13th clean sheet of the 2018 campaign across all competitions, a new club record for shutouts in a single season.
As if the record-setting season for City’s goalkeepers isn’t impressive enough, the trio of Greg Ranjitsingh, Tim Dobrowolski and Chris Hubbard were left without a guide after the midseason departure of former goalkeepers’ coach Thabane Sutu.
“I think the intensity in training is still the same, if not harder. We know we can push ourselves,” said Dobrowolski. “We’re a tight group so we know when someone is slacking we can get on them.”
An impressive run in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup led to Dobrowolski’s opportunity to showcase his leadership role on the pitch.
Back-to-back clean sheets for the Loyola-Chicago graduate – a dominating 5-0 win over the Long Island Rough Riders followed by a 1-0 win over the Western Conference’s Saint Louis FC – proved just how dynamic City’s goalkeepers can be.
Not long after the club’s Open Cup run was ended in the semifinal matchup with the Chicago Fire, however, Sutu’s last days neared.
Though the “Boys in Purple” would soon be without the local legend, Dobrowolski says his squad pressed on, continuing to improve on a day-to-day basis.
“I think nothing’s really changed,” said 6-foot-4 Dobrowolski. “Maybe I’ve taken on more of a role as a leader knowing that I have to look after a rookie and also help support a number one and be ready to go in any time.”
His number would be called just 17 minutes into Saturday’s home match against Fury FC when Greg Ranjitsingh was sidelined due to injury.
Over the remaining 73 minutes of play, Dobrowolski maintained a strong defensive effort that left the visitors scoreless. His first clean sheet in USL play would be his side’s 11th, good for seventh entering the weekend.
The addition of head coach John Hackworth has also brought a pair of helping hands for the goalkeeping trio.
Scott Budnick, a Louisville native and former MLS ‘keeper, has come on the squad as a volunteer assistant for Louisville City.
“It’s always nice when you have an extra pair of hands just to kick the balls, serve balls and bring fresh ideas to the group,” said Dobrowolski on Budnick. “Obviously when it’s just the same three people every day, it might not get stale but just a little creativity helps us get through training.”
Now, Dobrowolski and Louisville City look to finish the season strong with just a pair of contests remaining in the 2018 regular season.
