April 6, 2006
DENVER, Colorado - The Colorado Rapids have signed former Santa Clara University goalkeeper Joe Cannon to a multi-year contract, the team announced today. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not announced.
"I'm very happy to have this deal inked and want to thank Major League Soccer, the Colorado Rapids, and my agent, Ron Waxman for making it happen," said Cannon.
"I'm looking forward to continue building the foundation of the team and helping the Rapids get to the next level by giving this franchise their first MLS Championship."
Cannon, the two-time MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, fought through an abdominal injury for most of the 2005 season but still posted eight shutouts with a goals-against-average of 1.20.
After playing hurt for weeks, Cannon's 5,054 consecutive minutes streak came to an end on September 17 at D.C. United when he left the game in the 59th minute. His 56 game-starting streak ended before the next match, but the stalwart keeper came back during the final game of the season to shut out Real Salt Lake, helping the Rapids win the Rocky Mountain Cup in its inaugural year.
In the 2005 MLS playoffs, Cannon turned in arguably his best performance when he made 12 saves in the 120-minute marathon second leg of the Western Conference Semifinals. Cannon turned away a flurry of FC Dallas shots in the final minutes of overtime but his biggest save come on Roberto Mina's penalty kick, which allowed Jean Philippe Peguero to clinch the playoff series.
On the international side, Cannon has appeared in two games for the U.S. Men's National Team. He has yet to concede a goal in two halves of play. On June 8, 2003 against New Zealand, Cannon played the second half of the game and on March 19, 2005 Cannon started against Honduras. He was also called into camp by U.S. Men's National Team manager Bruce Arena to train for the FIFA World Cup qualifier against Trinidad & Tobago on Feb. 9, 2005 in Port of Spain, Trinidad, thanks to his stellar 2004 season with the Rapids.
