Rapids acquire GK MacMath on loan

Jan 7, 2015 - 6:20 PM Commerce City, CO (SportsNetwork.com) - The Colorado Rapids bolstered their defensive ranks on Wednesday by acquiring goalkeeper Zac MacMath on loan from the Philadelphia Union.

MacMath became the youngest player to play his 100th career game last season as he started 29 games for the Union, recording five shutouts. In 2013 he started all 34 matches for Philadelphia and recorded 12 clean sheets.

MacMath will compete with Clint Irwin and John Berner for the No. 1 job.

"Zac is a young, technical goalkeeper who has four years of experience in the league," said Rapids head coach Pablo Mastroeni. "He is coming off of his best season as a pro, and we look forward to him bringing great competition to the solid goalkeepers we currently have, as we continue to build for 2015 and beyond."

MacMath was drafted fifth overall in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft after a three- year college career at the University of Maryland, which included a first team selection on the all-Atlantic Coast Conference team. He was named the Most Valuable Player in the 2010 ACC tournament after posting clean sheets vs. top- seeded North Carolina and Virginia, with a sparkling 1.07 goals-against average with three shutouts in eight tournament games.

In exchange for MacMath, Philadelphia receives a second round selection in the 2015 SuperDraft. If Colorado makes MacMath's loan a permanent transfer, the Union will receive Colorado's highest first-round pick in the 2016 draft.

The move clears the way for Algeria international goalkeeper Rais M'Bolhi to grab the starting spot for the Union, while last season's no. 1 overall selection, Andre Blake, will likely serve as the backup.