2015 Orlando City Season in Review: A look back at Tally Hall’s Only Season with the Lions

Editor's Note: This story was submitted last night, before the news broke this morning about Hall's option being declined by Orlando City. After some heavy editing, we decided to go ahead and run this story since Hall played a major role with the team throughout the season.

Tally Hall was one of the first MLS players that Orlando City targeted to be part of its inaugural MLS season. Hall was the first player acquired that had MLS experience after spending the last six seasons with the Houston Dynamo, where he established himself as one of the league’s top shot stoppers. Hall was coming off ACL surgery in 2014, so we knew he’d get a late start on the 2015 season, and there were many question marks on whether he would be at the level in which he could lead a playoff run for Orlando City.

Statistical Breakdown

Hall appeared in 23 MLS matches and two U.S. Open Cup games in 2015 for Orlando City and amassed six shutouts for the season. In MLS play, he played 2,064 minutes and made 73 saves, while allowing 41 goals. His final record was 10-8-5 in MLS play, with a 1-1 record in U.S Open Cup matches.

Hall never had back-to-back shutouts (although he allowed no goals from open play in his first two matches, conceding only a penalty at San Jose) and finished with a 1.78 goals-against average. The stats sort of show what it is like to be on an expansion team, as many goalkeepers have difficulty keeping their numbers down.

Take 2012, for example, when Montreal Impact in their inaugural year had a goalkeeper named Donovan Ricketts, who had a very similar stat line. Ricketts appeared in 24 matches with a 1.63 goals-against average before being traded to Portland in that same year. This year, New York City FC goalkeeper Josh Saunders had slightly better numbers, although he appeared in 33 matches, amassing a 1.73 goals-against average and four shutouts. Moral of the story: it’s not easy being an expansion goalkeeper.

Best Game

There were many games where Hall made at least one save to secure a shutout, but his best game came on July 4 against Real Salt Lake. In this game, Kaká was able to get an early goal but also drew a red card. Hall was spectacular all match, making six saves. His biggest save came in the fourth minute, when he robbed Olmes Garcia.

We broke down that save earlier in the year and he does well to set his feet at the moment of impact. He was the main reason why Orlando escaped with a point when the team perhaps deserved to leave there with a loss.

2016 Outlook

Hall's 2016 option was not exercised by the club, Orlando City announced earlier today. As such, Hall is eligible to enter Major League Soccer's Re-Entry process. Wherever he lands, that team will be getting one of the better shot stoppers in MLS over the last several years. His recent knee injuries will be a potential red flag, but there has been no evidence suggesting he can't continue his career long term. It appears that Earl Edwards Jr. and a goalkeeper not yet acquired will battle it out for Orlando City's No. 1 keeper job.

2015 Final Grade

The Mane Land staff gave Tally Hall a composite ranking of 8. This may seem low for a goalkeeper that many feel carried this team throughout the season. This grade will probably be one of the highest on Orlando City but some of The Mane Land staff bring up some reservations with a high grade and had him with as low as a 7. Some of the reasoning I agree with; this is a goalkeeper that went on a stretch of games giving up 14 goals in four matches.

Also, aside from the Real Salt Lake and maybe the last Chicago Fire match, was there a game that Hall really stole the match like a Bill Hamid or a Luis Robles does? Not really. Hall’s career record is slightly above .500. He is a good goalkeeper, but will now be plying his trade elsewhere.