On Saturday night, Dynamo goalkeeper Tally Hall will make his MLS debut against D.C. United. The young keeper played for Houston in both the Open Cup and CONCACAF Champion’s League last year but is happy to finally get the opportunity to make his MLS debut.
“I’m excited for the game,” said Hall. “[But] it’s another game. I prepare for every game like I am going to play. So this week to last, I am going to prepare the same way.”
The young keeper showed well when he did play, but veteran Pat Onstad put in an ironman performance and played every minute in every MLS game for Houston last year.
“I think we were one of the few teams where the starting goalkeeper played every minute,” Hall said.
With Hall elevated to starter, third-string ’keeper Tyler Deric gets promoted to back-up, meaning an injury to Hall might be a cause for concern for coach Dominic Kinnear.
“We feel confident knowing Tally’s played well for us in the past and will hopefully play well Saturday,” Kinnear said. “Tyler’s been training really well and knock on wood if something goes terribly wrong, Tyler’s capable of playing as well.”
Hall had two standout games last year. He made ten saves against the Seattle Sounders in the U.S. Open Cup semifinals and against Pachuca in the CONCACAF Champions League, tying Pat Onstad for a club record of two ten-save performances during a season. However, Hall’s most memorably moment might be the goal he scored against Isidro Metapan in the CCL, becoming the first Dynamo ‘keeper to ever score.
“Tally’s played some games for us and done great,” Dynamo goalkeeper coach Tim Hanley said. “It’s the hardest job in sports to be a backup keeper. He’s a good keeper and he wouldn’t be here if he wasn’t good.”
More importantly than the trust of the coaching staff, Hall has also earned the respect of the veteran Dynamo defense.
“He’s ready and we’re not going to do anything any differently,” center back Bobby Boswell said. “It’s a guy we are used to playing with in practice and he showed well last year when he got his opportunity and we don’t think it will be any different this year.”
