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Maurer to Play One More Final With the Cosmos

Goalkeeper strong in semifinal shootout to lead Cosmos to win
Published Nov 11, 2017

When the New York Cosmos needed him most, goalkeeper, Jimmy Maurer, stepped up and delivered. 

In their thrilling semifinal victory over Miami FC on November 5, Maurer made five saves over the first 120 minutes of play to send the game to a penalty shootout. Maurer relished the moment.

“I love penalty kicks,” Maurer said. “For me, penalty kicks are my chance to step up and be a hero instead of taking the blame for the goals.”

To start the shootout, Maurer guessed the right way to stop Michel. However, the teams would end up tied after five rounds, and then both teams scored on their sixth shots to keep the game going. In the seventh round, Maurer again picked the right side to dive and stop Mason Trafford, allowing Eugene Starikov to slot home the winning kick for the Cosmos, sending New York to its third straight appearance in The Championship Final.

“We actually didn’t focus on it too much during the week,” Maurer said of penalties. “Everyone knows they need to be prepared for that occasion. I just tried to step up for the team.”

Stepping up for the team is what the 29-year-old keeper has done since becoming the Cosmos’ starter in goal for the 2014 season. 

Between 2014-16, Maurer’s stats gradually increased, improving in wins, goals against average, and clean sheets each season. The 2016 season was his best as a professional, as he won 17 games while recording 14 clean sheets and a 0.81 goals against average to lead the Cosmos to their second straight NASL title.

However, the 2017 season was difficult for the Lawrenceville, Georgia native. He recorded six clean sheets, nine wins, and a 1.48 goals against average.

“It’s been a complicated year,” he said. “We weren’t able to get things clicking like we wanted to early in the season.”

With two other capable keepers on the roster, Maurer had to make sure he was on top of his game in order to keep his spot in the net. 

“I know if I’m not bringing 100 percent in training every day, they’re more than capable of taking over, as they’ve shown in the games,” Maurer said of his fellow goalkeepers. “I always play with the worry that if I don’t bring my best, someone else will.”

Now, Maurer and the Cosmos have hit their stride as they head into The Championship Final on the road against the San Francisco Deltas. Over the final month of the Regular Season, Maurer and the Cosmos were undefeated in six games (3W-3D). With their win over top-seeded Miami FC last week, the Cosmos are flying high as they enter the final game of the season. 

“We’re confident now,” Maurer said. “We’re feeling like we’re settled into the want to play the last few weeks and we’re putting it together at the right time which is the most important thing.”

In order to bring the Soccer Bowl trophy back to New York, the Cosmos know they will need to be at their best for one final game as they seek to become the first three-peat champions in NASL history.

“It’s going to take a very huge effort from our team again,” Maurer said. “Top to bottom, San Francisco is a tough team. It’s going to take a huge effort again to try and get a result and win another championship.”

The Championship Final will be televised nationally on beIN SPORTS (English), beIN SPORTS en Español (Spanish), beIN SPORTS CONNECT (Digital), and NASL.com.