Orlando City Goalkeeper Joe Bendik Named MLS Player of the Month for April 2017

Maybe the rest of the world is waking up to the quality of Joe Bendik’s goalkeeping that we’ve been seeing in Orlando for more than a year. City’s stellar stopper has been selected as the MLS Player of the Month for April 2017 by members of the media.

The 28-year-old went 4-1 in the month of April with a pair of shutouts over the New York Red Bulls and Colorado Rapids. After a 2-0 road loss at Columbus, he backstopped the Lions to a fun of four consecutive wins – more than any other goalkeeper in MLS – last month that propelled the team to the top of the Supporters’ Shield standings. He has three clean sheets on the season, which is good for second best in the league.

Bendik made 17 saves in the month, including seven in a 2-1 win at New York City FC and five in a 2-1 home victory over the LA Galaxy. He finished second in Save of the Week voting for his denial of David Villa’s stoppage-time effort that would have equalized the game.

Only Villa, Romain Alessandrini, and Justin Meram were able to beat Bendik in the month of April.

The Marietta, GA, native was acquired from Toronto FC on Dec. 21, 2015 when the Lions traded for his rights after the Reds declined their option on his contract. Bendik has started every MLS match Orlando City has played since his arrival. 

Here’s a summary of his fantastic April put together by our graphics manager, Jorge Gallardo: