BLOG: Another West Coast Milestone!

For a small company that has already grown bigger than ever imagined, each and every milestone is a huge source of pride for the team behind the scenes.

We remember when Scott Morrison stood on his head for Abroath in 2012, went toe to toe with Victor Valdes and sent all of Scotland into a frenzy. We remember our first pros and seeing the gloves on the USL, NWSL, MASL and MLS stages. We will never forget the Joe Nasco and fastest red card in MLS history or when Tim Melia won the US Open Cup and MLS Keeper of the Year in the same season. We’ll certainly never forget Lee Alexander at the Women’s World Cup with Scotland in 2019 or Bouna Coundoul with Senegal in the 2012 African Cup. We all (admittedly) cried when David Martin took the field for West Ham United last year. We cheered as JT Marcinkowski took the Spyder X Pacifica to new heights with the U-23s and when Katelyn Rowland lifted a few NWSL trophies. There’s truly more moments than we can count on two hands.

On Sunday evening, another one happened. A big one. New England Revolution and West Coast Pro Team goalkeeper, Matt Turner, took the field for the senior US Men’s National Team. Being a US based company with its headquarters just outside Seattle, WA, this one was important. Keepers have worn our gloves in US National Team camps and also on the international stage at the youth and U23 levels, but this was the first time we got to see the gloves on the US senior international stage.

If you thought Matt was having a good 2021 after this game, let’s rewind it just a couple weeks. On January 17th the New England rewarded their #1 with a new, improved and deserved contract. On that same day, the Quantum Turner Pro from West Coast Goalkeeping went on sale. LET’S TALK ABOUT A GOOD START TO THE YEAR!

After a year of testing/designing Matt had finally settled on what would be the Pro Turner Model. We tried SEVERAL variations of purple, red and even pink gloves. With inspiration from the old Spyder Crimson, Matt went all in for the red. We are thrilled that he did!

The game itself was what you might call a “blow out.” By all accounts, the US scored early and often and for a while it looked like Matt might not even touch the ball with his hands in his debut. That didn’t stop some love from the announcers on Matt’s incredible journey to a USMNT start (how good was that)!? 

And then, that all changed. In the 65’ and up 7-0, the US committed a foul in the box and gave Trinidad & Tobago a penalty kick opportunity. The only threatening opportunity of the evening.

As Alvin Jones lined up to take the kick, it was hard not to have flashbacks to the MLS playoffs when in that exact stadium, Matt Turner denied Nani from the spot to secure a New England Revolution win. We all leaned forward closer to our TVs. BOOM. Same kick, same spot, same save. 

Not only did Matt emphatically make the save, he pounced on the rebound and sent the limited crowd at Exploria Stadium into hysterics. The West Coast Team jumped off our collective couches. The internet erupted. 

West Coast owner Shawn Norris said he originally scouted a young Matt Turner for the Pro Team because he was the quickest moving side to side (lateral) keeper he had ever seen. For our team here and fans of Matt, that save was no surprise. 

Like the announcers said in the game, Matt’s story is truly a testament to hard work. Undrafted out of Fairfield University, Matt started with New England on a preseason trial in 2016. He went on loan, got games and honed his craft. Over the last three seasons he has proven to be one of the league’s very best. League success translated to USMNT camp opportunities. Seizing those opportunities led to what you saw Sunday. The future is bright.