LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville City FC this week made a strong midseason addition to its roster by signing two-time Missouri Valley Conference Goalkeeper of the Year Tim Dobrowolski, a Loyola University Chicago product who posted 11 shutouts in 19 games last season as a senior.
Dobrowolski will take the spot opened by Scott Goodwin, the current LouCity keeper recently accepted to Harvard Medical School. Goodwin will suit up for his final game for the club on July 4.
“I have big shoes to fill,” Dobrowolski said. “Scott’s a great goalkeeper and a great person. Hopefully I can learn as much as possible before he goes and give back as much as he did.”
Dobrowolski, a 6-foot-3 native of Rockford, Ill., ranked second in the nation in 2015 in goals against average at 0.40 and boasted a 0.822 save percentage. Division I Loyola won 10 games — its most in seven years — as well as swept in-town rivals Northwestern, DePaul and Illinois-Chicago.
While Dobrowolski left Loyola as its career leader in shutouts with 25, he also earned the Missouri Valley’s Good Neighbor Award last fall for work off the field. And going back to high school, Dobrowolski won an Illinois state title in 2010 with Boylan Catholic.
“There’s a lot of potential there,” said Louisville City FC coach James O’Connor. “He ticks all the boxes.”
Goodwin started 27 of 28 games between the posts during LouCity’s inaugural season and took the role into this season. Since Goodwin received a red card during an April 27 draw with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Greg Ranjitsingh has solidified a spot in the lineup.
“I think right now, my role is just to be a good training partner and push Greg and Scott,” Dobrowolski said. “I would love to play, but I know I need to earn the respect and a spot on the team first and give my all in training.
“…Everyone’s been great. Everyone’s very humble and accepting of me coming in to train with them. James has been great. He gets his point and attitude across, and I think the guys really respect that.”
