Goalkeeper Matt VanOekel, Veteran Back Line Guiding FC Edmonton To Success

Photo credit: Indy Eleven/Trevor Ruszkowski

FC Edmonton goalkeeper Matt VanOekel is tied for the most shutouts (6), has the best goals against average (0.62), and best save percentage (81.2) in the NASL this year. The shot-stopper, though, will be the last to take credit for the Eddies’ strong defensive record – only eight goals against.

“My back four has been tremendous throughout the whole Spring Season and at home thus far,” VanOekel told NASL.com. “I don’t think they get enough credit. Those guys deserve so much credit for making the shots coming at me more predictable where I’m able to make the save as well as protecting me all around. I don’t think I’ve been as busy as I was last year.”

Captain Albert Watson has been strong once again for FC Edmonton, but the Eddies also retooled their back line, adding Papé Diakité, and veteran Adam Eckersley as well as Nik Ledgerwood to the midfield. Recently the club acquired Shawn Nicklaw in a trade with Jacksonville, sending Jason Plumhoff to the Armada FC.

“I’m feeling more comfortable in front of goal as well as more comfortable with the players in front of me,” VanOekel said. “The guys that [Coach] Colin [Miller] has brought in have been absolutely wonderful.”

Diakité is tied for first in clearances (87) and third in interceptions (47), and has been rock solid in the heart of FC Edmonton’s defense in his first year in the NASL.

“Papé played in Belgium with Antwerp,” VanOekel, 29, said. “He’s got the physical attributes you want in a center back. He’s not going to get beat for speed and he’s very, very good in the air.”

Eckersley, on the other hand, has brought vital and invaluable experience to the Eddies, helping the club to its best start in team history.

“Eckersley came through Man United,” VanOekel said. “I don’t think you can get somebody with more experience into the NASL with that type of upbringing. When you get to work with Alex Ferguson for years you’re going to be able to settle in anywhere when you’ve played the game at such a high level. That’s helped him and he’s extremely talented.”

FC Edmonton defeated Ottawa Fury FC, 1-0, to extend its home winning streak to six games, and one loss in its last 10, ahead of two important games. The Eddies first head to Carroll Stadium to face Indy Eleven before returning home to face the New York Cosmos next Wednesday, with a chance to extend the club’s home streak.

The game in Indianapolis on Saturday night will be no easy task, although the Eddies earned a 1-1 draw there in the Spring Season. With the Eleven coming off their first loss in league play this year, the Boys in Blue will have extra incentive to get a result and bounce back quickly.

“You have second and third in the overall standings right now,” VanOekel said. “It’s a six-point game for us. We can go above them in the Fall [Season] with a win and we have New York after that. They’re going to be fired up. [Tim] Hankinson is a great coach, he’s always been able to motivate his players. They are playing at home in front of their 10,000 screaming Brickyard Battalion fans. It’s going to be an absolute war I think.”

If the Eddies can pick up two results in their next two games, even more credit would go to the back line, VanOekel and the rest of the side.

“We play the top two teams in the league,” VanOekel said. “You get two results there and FC Edmonton is all of a sudden at the top of the table, everyone in the league is going to be like ‘What’s going on now?’”