After the announcement came that backup MLS goalkeeper Josh Saunders would be sidelined for the rest of the season, goalkeeper Earl Edwards Jr. was called into action to be the backup for Joe Bendik for the rest of the season.
Edwards, who was having a banner year with the USL side, leaves a team that is vying for a playoff spot with only seven games remaining. Now, it’s a chance for OCB backup keeper Jake Fenlason to step into the limelight.
Fenlason, the goalkeeper out of the University of Akron, played in two games last year with OCB, once as a substitute and once as a starter. This season, he has started two games, most recently in the team’s last game against Louisville City. Not only did the keeper get his first clean sheet of his career, but the team won 3-0 against the best team in the Eastern Conference.
Coming into the match after having not played much this season, there were a bit of nerves running through Fenlason.
“I think that's obviously a good thing because you don't want to be entirely nervous before you go up into a big game with Louisville,” Fenlason said, “But think it’s still tough, because obviously haven’t gotten the minutes and you’re still saying, ‘can I do this,’ mentally.”
Being a backup keeper can be tough, especially not knowing if and when the chance may arise to come into a game. For Fenlason, just being patient has been the biggest key for him to be able to step into goal for OCB.
“I think it's all just about patience. You never really know it's might happen but it’s always a possibility of it happening and I didn’t even know it was gonna happen so, again, you just have to be ready and you just gotta take advantage of it when it does happen.”
