2025 Position Group Preview - Goalkeepers
(image via Aldo Canale)
The Major League Soccer season is fast approaching. The Houston Dynamo will get their 2025 campaign underway on February 22. After two straight playoff appearances, the Dynamo have gone through some changes this offseason. Leading up to the first match against FC Dallas we’ll be breaking down each position group, the players within the group, and some expectations for them. We finish with the goalkeepers.
Blake Gillingham
2024 stats (MLS play): 0 appearances
Projected 2025 role: Dynamo 2 starter
The Dynamo announced the signing of Gillingham to a first-team contract just yesterday. Gillingham played every minute of the 2024 season for the Creighton Blue Jays at the NCAA level in 2024 and now makes the jump to the professional game. He’ll be the third-choice keeper for the Dynamo, meaning he will spend the majority of his time playing for Dynamo 2 in 2025.
Jimmy Maurer
2024 stats (MLS play): 4 appearances, 2 clean sheets
Projected 2025 role: Backup goalkeeper
Jimmy started his time with FC Dallas as an everyday starter with in Major League Soccer but has since been relegated to the bench for the past three seasons. He even saw playing time with their MLS NEXT Pro affiliate, North Texas SC while in Frisco. At 36-years-old, Maurer will occupy a second-string role at this point in his career. However, with the packed schedule the Dynamo face in 2025, it wouldn’t be surprising if he is given opportunities to play in certain situations.
Andrew Tarbell
2024 stats (MLS play): 4 appearances
Projected 2025 role: Starting goalkeeper
The Dynamo coaching staff has confirmed that Andrew has moved into the starting role with Steve Clark not returning for the 2025 season. While Tarbell had an impressive run in the U.S. Open Cup in 2023, 2024 told a different story, as he saw less playing time. However, when Clark sustained a facial injury early in the season, Andrew seized the opportunity, tying Pat Onstad’s record with 10 saves in a game during a win against the Colorado Rapids. Now, the question remains: Can he be as reliable as Clark was between the posts over the past three seasons? Only time will tell.
