The National Lacrosse League has announced three finalists for the 2014 NLL Goaltender of the Year award. The Edmonton Rush’s Aaron Bold, Buffalo Bandits’ Anthony Cosmo and Rochester Knighthawks’ Matt Vinc were the top trio of vote recipients for best goalie play in the league this year.
Bold, who posted an NLL-record 8.73 goals against average in 2014, backstopped the Rush to a league-low 157 goals allowed. The nine-year veteran led the league in wins with a 15-2 record and ranked second in minutes played (1010:45), fourth in save percentage (.791), and fifth in total saves (557). The Victoria, B.C. native, who helped Edmonton to a historic 14-0 start and league-best 16-2 record in 2014, was the 29th overall pick in the 2005 NLL Entry Draft.
Cosmo set a new league record with 752 saves this year and also led the NLL in minutes played (1063:36). The 14-year pro, the longest-tenured active goalie in the NLL, helped lead the Bandits back to the playoffs as the team allowed 200 goals, third-fewest in the league. Cosmo ranked third in save percentage (.797) and fourth in both goals against average (10.77) and wins (8). The Mississauga, Ontario native, who was drafted with the 15th overall selection in the 1998 NLL Entry Draft, won the Goaltender of the Year award in 2007.
Vinc, the defending Goaltender of the Year, finished second in the league this year in save percentage (.798), tied for second in wins with a 12-3 record, and third in goals against average (9.56), saves (595) and minutes played (947:43). The Knighthawks allowed the second-fewest goals in the NLL (167) and finished atop the East Division. The nine-year NLL veteran is the only goalie in league history to win the Goaltender of the Year award three times (2010, 2011 & 2013). The St. Catharines, Ontario native played collegiately at Canisius College and was drafted in the first round (6th overall) of the 2005 NLL Entry Draft.
The 2014 NLL Season Awards are determined by a vote of the league’s Board of Governors, General Managers and Head Coaches at the end of the regular season. The winners will be announced at the first-ever NLL Season Awards Ceremony on Sunday, Sept. 21 in Oakville, Ontario.
Remaining schedule of finalist announcement for the 2014 NLL Season Awards:
Wednesday, June 18: Rookie of the Year award finalists
Thursday, June 19: Most Valuable Player award finalists
Monday, June 23: Executive of the Year award finalists
Tuesday, June 24: Media Person of the Year (The Tom Borrelli Award)
