Matt Freese
{{short description|American soccer player}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Matt Freese
| image =
| fullname = Matthew Andrew Geary Freese
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|9|2}}
| birth_place = Wayne, Pennsylvania, United States
| height = {{convert|1.91|m|order=flip}}{{cite web |title=Matt Freese |url=https://www.philadelphiaunion.com/players/matt-freese/ |publisher=Philadelphia Union |access-date=23 August 2022}}
| position = Goalkeeper
| currentclub = New York City FC
| clubnumber = 49
| youthyears1 = 2016–2017
| youthclubs1 = Philadelphia Union
| collegeyears1 = 2017–2018
| college1 = Harvard Crimson
| collegecaps1 = 16
| collegegoals1 = 0
| years1 = 2017
| clubs1 = Bethlehem Steel
| caps1 = 0
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2019–2022
| clubs2 = Philadelphia Union
| caps2 = 13
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2019–2022
| clubs3 = Philadelphia Union II
| caps3 = 30
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2023–
| clubs4 = New York City FC
| caps4 = 47
| goals4 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2019
| nationalteam1 = United States U23
| nationalcaps1 = 1
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| club-update = March 10, 2025
| nationalteam-update = November 27, 2019
}}
Matthew Andrew Geary Freese (born September 2, 1998) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Major League Soccer club New York City FC.
Club career
Born in Wayne, Pennsylvania, Freese went through the Philadelphia Union youth academy before appearing on the bench with Union reserve side, Bethlehem Steel, during the 2017 season. Not long after, Freese enrolled at Harvard and played college soccer for the Harvard Crimson, where his older brother Jack rowed heavyweight crew.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gocrimson.com/sports/msoc/2018-19/bios/freese_matt_qgni?view=bio|title=Matt Freese|website=Harvard|access-date=March 12, 2019|archive-date=January 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220113004132/https://gocrimson.com/404-1.aspx?url=url%3D%2Fcustompages%2Fmsoc%2F2018-19%2Fbios%2Ffreese_matt_qgni%3Fview%3Dbio|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web |last=mlssoccer |title=How Matt Freese charted a breakout path at New York City FC {{!}} MLSSoccer.com |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/matt-freese-s-path-to-new-york-city-fc-breakout-patience-family-more |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=mlssoccer |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Jack Freese - 2012-13 - Men's Heavyweight Rowing |url=https://gocrimson.com/sports/mens-heavyweight-rowing/roster/jack-freese/3290 |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=Harvard University |language=en}}
Professional career
=Philadelphia Union=
On December 21, 2018, it was announced that Freese would leave Harvard early and join Major League Soccer club Philadelphia Union at the beginning of their 2019 season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.philadelphiaunion.com/post/2018/12/21/philadelphia-union-sign-matt-freese-homegrown-deal|title=Philadelphia Union sign Matt Freese to homegrown deal | Philadelphia Union}}
Freese made his professional debut on April 19, 2019, coming on as a 54th-minute substitute for Andre Blake in a 3–0 home win against the Montreal Impact.
On November 8, 2020, Freese made his lone start of the 2020 season against the New England Revolution on MLS Decision Day. He made one save and kept a clean sheet as the Union clinched their first trophy in club history, the Supporters' Shield.{{Cite web|url=https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2020-11-08-philadelphia-union-vs-new-england-revolution/recap|title=Recap: Philadelphia Union vs. New England Revolution 11/08/2020 | Matchcenter}}
=New York City FC=
On January 27, 2023, Freese was traded to New York City FC in exchange for a guaranteed $350,000 of General Allocation Money, with a possibility of an additional $400,000, as well as a percentage of a future transfer fee.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/nycfc-land-goalkeeper-matt-freese-in-trade-with-philadelphia-union|title=NYCFC land goalkeeper Matt Freese in trade with Philadelphia Union | MLSSoccer.com|website=mlssoccer|accessdate=January 27, 2023}} On December 27, 2024, Freese was named New York City FC's MVP (Most Valuable Player) for the 2024 season after finishing third in the MLS in saves and fourth in save percentage.{{Cite web |date=2024-12-27 |title=Matt Freese named New York City FC's 2024 MVP |url=https://www.hudsonriverblue.com/matt-freese-named-2024-mvp-new-york-city-fc-mls/ |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=Hudson River Blue |language=en}} This marked the first time since 2021 that New York City FC gave out the award.
International career
Freese has represented the United States at the U-19 and U-23 levels. Freese was named to the final 20-player United States under-23 roster for the 2020 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship in March 2021.{{cite web |title=U.S. Under-23 Men's National Team Head Coach Jason Kreis Names Roster for Concacaf Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship |url=https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2021/03/us-u23-mnt-head-coach-jason-kreis-names-roster-for--concacaf-mens-olympic-qualifying-championship |website=www.ussoccer.com |date=March 11, 2021}} On January 6, 2024, Freese was called up to the US Men's National Team by head coach Mauricio Pochettino ahead of the January camp in Florida, with friendlies against Venezuela and Costa Rica. Freese did not play in either game.{{cite news |last=Hudson River |first1=Blue Staff |title=Matt Freese called up to US Men's National Team |url=https://www.hudsonriverblue.com/finally-matt-freese-called-up-to-us-mens-national-team/ |access-date=6 January 2024 |work=Hudson River Blue}}
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|match played October 19, 2024}}{{soccerway|freese-matthew/476732}}{{cite web |title=Matt Freese – MLS Profile |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/matt-freese |website=Major League Soccer}}
| class=wikitable style=text-align:center
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||||
| rowspan=2|Club
!rowspan=2|Season !colspan=3|League !colspan=2|National cup{{efn|Includes U.S. Open Cup}} !colspan=2|League cup{{efn|Includes MLS Cup playoffs}} !colspan=2|Continental !colspan=2|Other{{efn|Includes Leagues Cup}} !colspan=2|Total | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Bethlehem Steel
|2017 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 0 | 0 | |||
| rowspan=5|Philadelphia Union
|2019 |rowspan=4|MLS | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 7 | 0 | ||
| 2020 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 1 | 0 | |||
| 2021 | 6 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | ||
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| colspan=2|Total
!13||0||2||0||1||0||0||0||0||0||16||0 | ||||||||||||
| rowspan=4|Philadelphia Union II
|2019 |rowspan=2|USL | 8 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 8 | 0 | |||
| 2020 | 7 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 7 | 0 | |||
| 2022 | 15 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 15 | 0 | |||
| colspan=2|Total
!30||0||colspan=2|—||0||0||colspan=2|—||0||0||30||0 | ||||||||||||
| rowspan=4|New York City FC
|2023 |rowspan=3|MLS | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 2 | 0 | 13 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 34 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 4 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 3 | 0 | 41 | 0 | ||
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| colspan=2|Total
!44||0||1||0||4||0||colspan=2|—||5||0||54||0 | ||||||||||||
| colspan=3|Career total
!87||0||3||0||5||0||0||0||5||0||100||0 |
{{notelist}}
Honors
Philadelphia Union
- Supporters' Shield: 2020{{Cite tweet|number=1325568824008208384|user=MLS|title=SUPPORTERS' SHIELD WINNERS @PhilaUnion win their first trophy in club history! #DOOP|author=Major League Soccer|date=8 November 2020}}
- MLS Cup runner-up: 2022{{Cite web |last=Sigal |first=Jonathan |date=5 November 2022 |title=Hollywood ending! LAFC win legendary MLS Cup 2022 over Philadelphia Union |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/hollywood-ending-lafc-win-legendary-mls-cup-2022-over-philadelphia-union |access-date=27 April 2023 |website=Major League Soccer}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{MLS player}}
- {{USL Championship player|matt-freese}}
- {{U.S. Soccer player|f/matt-freese}}
{{New York City FC squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Freese, Matt}}
Category:American men's soccer players
Category:Men's association football goalkeepers
Category:Philadelphia Union II players
Category:Harvard Crimson men's soccer players
Category:Homegrown Players (MLS)
Category:Sportspeople from Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
Category:Philadelphia Union players
Category:Soccer players from Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Category:USL Championship players
Category:Major League Soccer players
Category:United States men's under-23 international soccer players