Rafael Diaz voted Indomitable City Soccer’s Sacramento Republic GK of the Year

In news that is sure to surprise nobody, we asked you to select the 2020 Sacramento Republic Goalkeeper of the Year and the winner was clear, in Rafael Diaz.

The 29-year-old, in his third season with Sac Republic, took the No. 1 for the club this season after Adam Grinwis went down with a season-ending knee injury. Diaz started 10 games in the regular season, plus one in the playoffs, keeping four clean sheets and becoming a standout, while bringing a sense of calm and confidence in the last line of defense for Mark Briggs’ squad.

And Diaz’s strong play led to Briggs to declare the goalkeeper his No. 1 moving into the 2021 season.

All told, Diaz garnered 88 percent of the vote, so it was a landslide win. Grinwis made four appearances before his injury knocked him out for the year, while Brady Scott, who joined on loan midseason from Nashville SC, made two appearances late in the season.

Congratulations to Rafa for the honor! It’s well deserved and it’s a wonderful feel-good story for the power of persistence.

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