Ryan Meara
{{short description|American professional soccer player (born 1990)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Ryan Meara
| image = Ryan Meara.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Meara in 2012
| fullname = Ryan Meara
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1990|11|15}}
| birth_place = Crestwood, New York, U.S.
| height = {{height|ft=6|in=4}}{{cite web |title=Ryan Meara |url=https://www.newyorkredbulls.com/players/ryan-meara/ |access-date=22 August 2022 |publisher=New York Red Bulls}}
| position = Goalkeeper
| currentclub =
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 = 2004–2007
| youthclubs1 = Fordham Prep
| youthyears2 = 2007–2008
| youthclubs2 = Reading
| collegeyears1 = 2008–2011
| college1 = Fordham Rams
| collegecaps1 = 74
| collegegoals1 = 0
| years1 = 2009
| clubs1 = Long Island Rough Riders
| caps1 = 10
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2010–2011
| clubs2 = Jersey Express
| caps2 = 28
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2012–2025
| clubs3 = New York Red Bulls
| caps3 = 43
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2015
| clubs4 = → New York City FC (loan)
| caps4 = 1
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2016–2019
| clubs5 = New York Red Bulls II
| caps5 = 30
| goals5 = 0
| medaltemplates =
| club-update = March 25, 2024
| nationalteam-update =
}}
Ryan Meara (born November 15, 1990) is a retired American professional soccer player who played as a goalkeeper.
Career
=College and amateur=
Meara was raised in Yonkers, New York and attended Fordham Preparatory School before enrolling at Fordham University in 2008.
He also trained with Reading of England with their youth academies in July 2007 and February 2008. While at Fordham he made 74 appearances and had 31 clean sheets. His 31 shutouts are a school record. In total, Meara owned nine Fordham University goal keeper records including career games in goal, minutes played, goal against average in a career (0.87) and a single season (0.65 in 2011) and save percentage in a single season (.862 in 2011). In 2010 Meara was named team captain for the Rams. Meara was named All-Atlantic Ten three times before earning conference Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2011.{{Cite web |url=http://www.fordhamsports.com/sports/m-soccer/mtt/meara_ryan00.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100930030048/http://www.fordhamsports.com/sports/m-soccer/mtt/meara_ryan00.html |url-status=dead |title=Player Bio: Ryan Meara - FORDHAM OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE |archivedate=September 30, 2010 |website=www.fordhamsports.com}}
During the 2009 season, Meara also played for the Long Island Rough Riders of the USL Premier Development League. In 2010, he joined Jersey Express and was voted the league's goalkeeper of the year as he recorded 8 clean sheets in 12 appearances during the 2010 PDL season.{{Cite web|url=http://www.uslsoccer.com/home/453907.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120711165124/http://www.uslsoccer.com/home/453907.html|url-status=dead|title=United Soccer Leagues (USL)|archivedate=July 11, 2012|website=www.uslsoccer.com}} In two years with Jersey Express, he made 28 appearances for the club.
=Professional=
Meara was drafted 31st overall by New York Red Bulls in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft and signed with the club on February 6, 2012.{{Cite web|url=http://www.newyorkredbulls.com/news/2012/02/red-bulls-sign-goalkeeper-ryan-meara|title=Red Bulls Sign Goalkeeper Ryan Meara}} On March 11, Meara started his first game against FC Dallas.{{Cite web|url=http://www.newyorkredbulls.com/news/2012/03/despite-red-bulls-loss-ryan-meara-solid-debut|title=Despite Red Bulls' Loss, Ryan Meara Solid in Debut}} On April 28, he recorded his first professional shutout against the New England Revolution.{{Cite web|url=http://www.newyorkredbulls.com/news/2012/04/red-bulls-shut-out-new-england-1-0|title=Red Bulls Shut Out New England, Stay Undefeated at Home}} Meara started the first 18 games of the season and emerged as a leading candidate for the MLS Rookie of the Year Award.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/07/10/rookie-rankings-hoppenots-substitute-exploits-rewarded|title=Rookie Rankings: Hoppenot's substitute exploits rewarded}} However, on July 8 he sustained a hip injury during a game which required surgery and ended his season.{{Cite web|url=http://www.newyorkredbulls.com/news/2012/08/red-bulls-goalkeeper-ryan-meara-undergoes-hip-surgery|title=Red Bulls Goalkeeper Ryan Meara Undergoes Hip Surgery}}
On December 11, 2014, New York Red Bulls announced that Meara would be loaned to New York City FC for the 2015 season.{{Cite web|url=http://www.newyorkredbulls.com/news/2014/12/red-bulls-loan-goalkeeper-ryan-meara-new-york-city-fc-2015-season|title=Red Bulls loan goalkeeper Ryan Meara to New York City FC for 2015 season}} After suffering a torn meniscus in preseason training, Meara would make his first start for NYCFC on April 24, 2015. It was his first Major League Soccer appearance after a hip injury ended his rookie season on July 8, 2012, a span of 1,020 days.
Meara returned to the Red Bulls at the conclusion of the 2015 season. On March 26, the New York Red Bulls announced that they had loaned Meara and six other first team players to New York Red Bulls II for their home opener.{{cite web|title=New York Red Bulls Loan Seven Players to NYRB II|url=http://www.newyorkredbulls.com/post/2016/03/26/new-york-red-bulls-loan-seven-players-nyrb-ii|access-date=March 26, 2016}} He went on to make his first appearance for New York Red Bulls II on March 26, appearing as a starter in a 2–2 draw against Toronto FC II.{{cite web|url=http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/629977?referrer_id=2333971|title=Allen Leads Red Bulls II Rally in 2-2 Draw|work=USLSoccer.com|date=March 26, 2016 }} After helping lead New York to the USL regular season title, Meara helped the club advance to the 2016 USL Cup Final by making two saves in a penalty shootout as top-seeded NYRBII defeated second-seeded Louisville City FC 4–3 in the shootout of the Eastern Conference Final.{{cite web|url=http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/709767?referrer_id=2333971|title=Meara, NYRBII Bound for USL Cup Final|work=uslsoccer.com|date=October 16, 2016 }} On October 23, 2016, Meara captained New York in a 5–1 victory over Swope Park Rangers in the 2016 USL Cup Final.{{cite web|url=http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/712570?referrer_id=2333971|title=Allen's Hat Trick Leads Red Bulls II to USL Cup|work=uslsoccer.com|date=October 23, 2016|access-date=October 23, 2016}}
On June 14, 2017, Meara led New York to a 1–0 victory over league rival and former club New York City FC in the 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.{{cite web|url=https://www.newyorkredbulls.com/post/2017/06/14/red-bulls-knock-nycfc-out-us-open-cup|title=Red Bulls Knock NYCFC out of U.S. Open Cup|work=newyorkredbulls.com}} On July 13, 2017, Meara in his role as keeper for New York in the Cup led his team to a 1–0 victory over New England Revolution, advancing to the semifinals of the Open Cup.{{cite web|url=https://www.newyorkredbulls.com/post/2017/07/13/match-recap-red-bulls-defeat-10-men-new-england-1-0|title= Red Bulls Defeat 10-men New England, 1-0|work=newyorkredbulls.com}}
On May 10, 2022, Meara recorded a shutout for New York in a 3–0 victory over DC United, helping the club advance to Round of 16 in the 2022 U.S. Open Cup.{{cite web|url=https://www.newyorkredbulls.com/news/match-recap-pres-by-provident-bank-red-bulls-roll-to-3-0-victory-advance-to-open|title=Red Bulls Roll to 3-0 Victory, Advance to Open Cup Round of 16|website=www.newyorkredbulls.com}} Almost a year to the date, on May 9, 2023, Meara recorded another shutout for New York in 1–0 victory over rival DC United, helping his side advance to the Round of 16 of the 2023 U.S. Open Cup.{{cite web|url=
https://www.newyorkredbulls.com/news/match-recap-pres-by-provident-bank-red-bulls-advance-in-us-open-cup-with-1-0-vic|title=Red Bulls Advance in US Open Cup with 1-0 Victory|website=www.newyorkredbulls.com}}
On March 23, 2024, Meara recorded his first MLS clean sheet since 2020 in a 4–0 victory over Inter Miami CF.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newyorkredbulls.com/news/match-recap-pres-by-provident-bank-red-bulls-dominate-in-4-0-win-over-inter-miam|title=MATCH RECAP, pres. by Provident Bank: Red Bulls Dominate in 4-0 Win over Inter Miami CF at Red Bull Arena|first=New York Red|last=Bulls|website=New York Red Bulls}}
On January 22, 2025, ahead of the upcoming 2025 season, Meara announced his retirement from playing soccer after 13 seasons in the professional game.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/new-york-red-bulls-goalkeeper-ryan-meara-retires|title=New York Red Bulls goalkeeper Ryan Meara retires | MLSSoccer.com|website=mlssoccer}}
=International=
Meara, who qualified for Irish citizenship through his grandparents, was named to the Republic of Ireland U-21 team on April 30, 2012.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/05/01/kick-meara-pledges-international-future-ireland|title=Kick Off: Meara pledges international future to Ireland?|website=mlssoccer.com|publisher=Major League Soccer|date=May 1, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120507233158/https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/05/01/kick-meara-pledges-international-future-ireland|archive-date=May 7, 2012}} However, the Red Bulls did not permit him to train with Ireland, despite the fact that the call-up would not require him to miss any MLS games.{{cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/soccer/story/2012-05-01/new-york-red-bulls-goalkeeper-ryan-meara-accepts-ireland-call-up|title=Red Bulls keep Meara in US for European U-21 championship qualifier|website=sportingnews.com|publisher=Sporting News|date=May 1, 2012|access-date=June 25, 2012}}
In June 2014, Ireland's senior team used Red Bulls' training facilities before a friendly match against Portugal, and Meara joined the Irish for a practice session. Ireland coach Martin O'Neill said he would "keep an eye on things".{{cite news | title = New York 'keeper Ryan Meara back on Irish radar after training call | work = Irish Independent | url = http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/new-york-keeper-ryan-meara-back-on-irish-radar-after-training-call-30341045.html | date = June 10, 2014 | first = Daniel | last = McDonnell | access-date = February 28, 2015 }}
Honors
=Club=
=Individual=
Career statistics
{{updated|match played March 23, 2024}}{{Soccerway|ryan-meara/225616|access-date=18 February 2021}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" | ||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Long Island Rough Riders
|2009{{Cite web|title=Ryan Meara {{!}} SoccerStats.us|url=http://soccerstats.us/bios/ryan-meara/|access-date=18 February 2021|website=soccerstats.us}} |PDL |10 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | 10 | 0 | ||||
| rowspan="3"|Jersey Express
|2010 | rowspan="2" |PDL |12 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | 12 | 0 | ||||
| 2011
|16 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | 16 | 0 | ||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 0 | |
| rowspan="13"|New York Red Bulls
|2012 | rowspan="12" |MLS |18 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0 | ||
| 2013
|0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2014
|0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4{{efn|Appearance(s) in CONCACAF Champions League|name=Con}} | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2016
|0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1{{efn|name=Con}} | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2017
|0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||
| 2018
|3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
| 2019
|1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2020
|13 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | 1{{efn|Appearance(s) in MLS Cup Playoffs}} | 0 | 14 | 0 | |||
| 2021
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2022
|1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 2023
|0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2024
|7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1{{efn|Appearance(s) in Leagues Cup|name=LC}} | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!43 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 67 | 0 | |
| New York City FC (loan)
|2015 |MLS |1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | 1 | 0 | ||
| rowspan="5"|New York Red Bulls II (loan)
|2016 | rowspan="4" |USL |21 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | 4{{efn|Appearance(s) in USL Championship Playoffs}}
|0 | 25 | 0 | ||||
| 2017
|3 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | 3 | 0 | ||||
| 2018
|4 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | 4 | 0 | ||||
| 2019
|2 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | 2 | 0 | ||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 34 | 0 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!112 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 140 | 0 |
{{Notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{MLS player|ryan-meara}}
- [https://fordhamsports.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/ryan-meara/4158 Fordham Rams bio]
- {{Soccerway|ryan-meara/225616}}
{{Atlantic 10 Conference Men's Soccer Player of the Year navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Meara, Ryan}}
Category:American men's soccer players
Category:Fordham Rams men's soccer players
Category:Gabelli School of Business alumni
Category:Long Island Rough Riders players
Category:Jersey Express S.C. players
Category:New York Red Bulls players
Category:New York City FC players
Category:New York Red Bulls II players
Category:USL League Two players
Category:Major League Soccer players
Category:USL Championship players
Category:American people of Irish descent
Category:New York Red Bulls draft picks
Category:Sportspeople from Yonkers, New York
Category:Soccer players from Westchester County, New York
Category:Men's association football goalkeepers