Christopher Sawyer
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Christopher Sawyer (born October 20, 1982 in Denver, Colorado) is an American soccer player, who graduated from the University of Notre Dame as the best goalkeeper in school history.
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[edit] High School
Sawyer was a soccer and track and field standout at Highlands Ranch High School. As a three-year starter in goal, he lead his school to a 50-5-3 mark from 1998-2000. During that time, Sawyer posted 34 career shutouts and a 0.70 goals against average, both school records. Though he helped the squad finish second in the state tournament in 2000, Sawyer guided the team to a state crown just two years before as a sophomore in 1998. He was twice named all-state while in high school and graduated as an NSCAA High School All-America honoree. Additionally, Sawyer played club soccer for the Colorado Rush and was also a member of the Under-18 National team. In his senior year, Sawyer was invited to the prestigious adidas ESP Camp where he earned the ESP Golden Glove Award as the top goaltender. In addition to his accomplishments on the pitch, Sawyer was also a standout high jumper who graduated ranked 2nd in the state of Colorado.
[edit] Notre Dame
Five games after Sawyer's arrival at Notre Dame, he took over the starting position in the goal and held on to it for four years. Sawyer's freshman year saw him named to the Soccer America All-Freshman Team, the first player in the history of the Notre Dame men's soccer program to earn the distinction. He was also one of three BIG EAST rookies to be selected to the all-conference team as a second-team honoree. Sawyer's goals against average of .56 ranked 5th in the nation.
His sophomore year was marred by a hamstring injury that kept him out of five contests. Though he performed admirably, Sawyer saw himself drop to Third Team all-BIG EAST, as his goals against average increased to .99 and save percentage dropped from .857 to .754.
2003 marked Sawyer's comeback, as he firmly established himself as one of the top goalkeepers in the nation. He matched the Notre Dame record for shutouts in a season with 12 (tying Mark Steranka, 1983) and compiled a 485-minute scoreless streak vs. Indiana, West Virginia, and Bradley. Additionally, Sawyer managed to hold Notre Dame's opponents to one or zero goals in 20 of 23 matches. As a result, he was named College Soccer News first-team All-American, Soccer Times third-team All-American, first-team all-BIG EAST selection, while also earning the BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year award. In the 2003 BIG EAST Tournament, Sawyer and teammate Justin Detter led Notre Dame to the BIG EAST Championship with three shutouts against Connecticut, Providence, and St. Johns and and was named the BIG EAST Championship Most Outstanding Defensive Player.
Sawyer began his senior year on the Hermann Trophy watch list - an award given to collegiate soccer's player of the year. In 2004, he led the country with a .457 goals against average while registering a 623 minute scoreless streak. Sawyer was again named BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the year and first team all-BIG EAST, and also earned NSCAA first team All-America honors. He became the first player in the history of Notre Dame men's soccer to earn the distinction. Sawyer ended his career at Notre Dame with 31 shutouts.
[edit] Professional Career
Chris Sawyer was drafted in the 2nd round of the Major League Soccer Superdraft with the 24th pick by the Kansas City Wizards, joining former teammate Justin Detter.[1] He was the third goalkeeper taken in the draft. Sawyer inexplicably left the Wizards before the commencement of the MLS season. No explanation was provided by either the club or Sawyer.
[edit] External links
- Chris Sawyer University of Notre Dame Player Biography
- Chris Sawyer, Notre Dame Media Guide
- Chris Sawyer Kansas City Wizards Player Biography
