The Concacaf Gold Cup has spotlighted Matt Freese as a new hero for the U.S. men’s national soccer team (USMNT). His impressive performance included saving three penalties from Costa Rica during a sudden-death shootout, playing a key role in the USMNT’s progression to the semifinals. Remarkably, Freese entered the camp as the third-choice goalkeeper behind USMNT starter Matt Turner and former starter Zack Steffen, who was unavailable due to injury. With Steffen and another potential stand-in sidelined, coach Mauricio Pochettino has been experimenting with the squad, giving Freese a chance to shine.

Freese’s long history of studying penalty kicks contributed greatly to his success in the shootout, where his tactical preparations paid off. He credited his goalkeeping coach, Toni Jimenez, for advice that helped him read the opposing players’ tendencies.

Freese stated, “Penalties are my thing. [On] the plane ride over to Minnesota, I was studying the penalties. I’ve been studying them all week and was ready for it… the one that I didn’t move on was a suggestion from my goalkeeper coach.”

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• Freese saves penalties as his experience with the Philadelphia Union and Harvard prepares him for success.

A native of Wayne, Pennsylvania, Freese’s career began at Harvard from 2017-18 before signing a homegrown contract with Philadelphia Union in 2019. His experiences—particularly the intensive focus on penalty situations during his time there—have been crucial in his recent performances. He participated in multiple shootouts in the USL, further honing his skills.

Currently competing for the starting role for the upcoming World Cup, Freese’s recent performances suggest he could establish himself as a valuable player for the national team. Despite facing competition, his growth as a penalty specialist adds an intriguing layer to his profile as a goalkeeper.