RENO, Nev. – A furious finish at the end of the regular season earned Matt Bersano team Goalkeeper of the Year honors Tuesday.

This is Bersano's second Goalkeeper of the Year award after earning the same honor in 2017. 

Bersano, who wrapped up his second season with Reno 1868 FC and the San Jose Earthquakes, made the most out of every opportunity in 2018.

The veteran keeper posted a 10-match undefeated record during the regular season with Reno.

Bersano was key to Reno’s first home win back on April 28 when he posted his first of seven clean sheets of 2018. His second came a week later in a 0-0 draw at Rio Grande Valley FC. The win and draw helped kickstart a club-record 16-match unbeaten streak.

Bersano didn’t return until Sept. 22 when he went back to his full-time duties with Reno and posted one of the greatest individual performance runs in club history. After helping Reno secure the Silver State Cup in a 3-3 draw in his first game back, Bersano posted four-straight shutouts and helped Reno finish the regular season on a seven-match unbeaten streak.

But Bersano’s best performance came in the postseason as he helped Reno secure its first playoff win in club history.

Facing offensive-power Real Monarchs SLC in the first round, Bersano put on a goalkeeping clinic recording eight incredible saves that kept the match scoreless allowing Brian Brown to score the late-winner in the second minute of stoppage time. 

Bersano finished 2018 with an 81 percent save success percentage (led team) and seven clean sheets (led team). 

2018 STATS

• 11 appearances
• 11 starts
• 990 minutes played
• 81 save success rate (led team)
• 7 clean sheets (led team)