Philadelphia Union Bring In Thorne Holder On Trial, Former U-17 And U-20 Trinadad And Tobago Goalkeeper

Adding Faryd Mondragon through a free transfer and drafting Zac MacMath apparently isn’t enough goalkeeping talent for Piotr Nowak and the Philadelphia Union.

Coming in as an on-trial player is former Trinadad and Tobago under-17 and under-20 goalkeeper Thorne Holder. Interestingly enough, Holder spent time with the University of Maryland, learning under the same system and coaches as current Union goalkeeper MacMath.

The 24-year-old Tobago native moved to Adelphia University from Maryland and had a great senior year in 2010. Starting 16 of 18 games he appeared in for Adelphia, Holder had 58 saves and let in 14 goals for a 0.77 goals against average. He was named to the All-Atlantic Soccer Conference First Team for a second year-in-a-row in 2010.

Newsday.co.tt quotes Trinadad and Tobago's Football Federation technical director, Lincoln Phillips, as hoping that Holder's time with the Union will help the young goalkeeper continue to develop:

With three goalkeepers already on the Union’s 30 man roster (Mondragon, MacMath and backup/starter Brad Knighton), Holder has a slim chance of signing a non-developmental contract with the Union. Though MLS added six roster spots for under-24 players, the Union already have 15 players at or under 24-years of age. In addition, Nowak has stated that MacMath will spend most of his time in the newly reestablished Reserve League, leaving Holder with a hard fight for both a contract and a roster spot.