Zach Thornton

Title

Men's/Women's Soccer Goalkeeper Coach

Zach Thornton, one of the all-time elite goalkeepers in Major League Soccer served as the goalkeeper coach for the E-town men's and women's soccer teams in 2012.

The Blue Jay men registered a 1.10 goals against average and seven shutouts under Thornton's guidance, both totals ranked third in the Commonwealth Conference. Senior Eric Carr was amongst the top five statistically in the CC in most major goalkeeping categories. Freshman Rodrigo Barrera won a pair of games and had a pair of shutouts while stopping 28 shots. Barrera had a save percentage of .875.

On the women' side, senior keeper Jess Manchak won 10 games, had a 0.78 goals against average and four clean sheets. Manchak surpassed the school's previous career record-holders in wins and shutouts, with her 33rd win and 20th shutout, respectively.

Thornton's storied playing career included 16 seasons in MLS, another in the Primeira Liga (Portugal) and eight appearances with the United States Men's National Team. He is best known for his time with the Chicago Fire of MLS, however.

Thornton spent nine seasons with Chicago from 1998-2006. He led the franchise to its first MLS Cup Championship in 1998 and four Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup titles ('98, '00, '03 and '06). The hulking 6-foot-3 keeper is a six-time MLS All-Star, last capturing those honors while with Chivas USA in 2009.

Additionally, Thornton holds two MLS Goalkeeper of the Year awards (1998 and 2009) and two MLS Best IX selections (1998 and 2009). He was the 2009 MLS Comeback Player of the Year after going 12-9-6 with 12 clean sheets, 83 saves and a 0.87 goals against average in 27 starts for Chivas USA.

Thornton was drafted in the seventh round of the 1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft by the New York/New Jersey MetroStars. Stints with the Colorado Rapids and New York Red Bulls helped complete his MLS tour of duty.

In 2004, Chicago loaned Thornton to Benfica, one of the top teams in Portugal's Primeira League.

A 1995 graduate of Loyola (Md.) University with a B.S. in communications and a concentration in advertising, Thronton earned NSCAA All-America honors as a junior (1993) and senior (1994). He led the nation in shutouts (14) and goals-against average (0.75) as a senior and backstopped the Greyhounds to a 15-5-2 record and Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference title that year.

Also an All-American midfielder for the Greyhounds’ lacrosse team, Thornton transferred to Loyola after two seasons at Essex Community College. At Essex CC, he collected a spot on the All-NJCAA First Team. He was inducted into the Loyola Hall of Fame in 2003 and is a member of the NJCAA Hall of Fame as well.

Thornton will volunteer some of his time with the men's soccer program at his alma mater this fall.

Thornton made his debut as a member of the USMNT in 1994. He backed up Kasey Keller at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta and was an alternate for the U.S.A. in at the 2002 FIFA World Cup.