NYCFC goalkeeper Matt Freese named finalist for MLS award — but he has bigger aims in mind

Matt Freese is not one to brag about himself or pay much mind to individual accolades. 

So it shouldn’t have come as much of a surprise that the New York City FC goalie wasn’t even aware that he had been named a finalist for MLS goalkeeper of the year, or that it was only through a text from his girlfriend that he learned the news. 

“A really big honor to be a finalist for that, but honestly, I didn’t even know the award was coming out,” Freese told The Post following practice on Thursday as NYCFC prepared for its first-round playoff series against Charlotte FC. “I didn’t think about it too much, and definitely much more focused on just winning against Charlotte on Tuesday.” 

But what shouldn’t be much of a surprise, either, is that Freese is in contention for the MLS end-of-year award. Freese has been one of the league’s best goalkeepers the past two seasons — controversially not being named as a finalist last year — and has ascended to becoming a regular starter for the U.S. Men’s National Team less than a year out from the 2026 World Cup. 

During league play this season, Freese has eight clean sheets, 96 saves and 42 goals allowed in 31 starts for NYCFC, and head coach Pascal Jansen credited the netminder with helping to establish the “consistency” that the club has played with this season. 

“He’s a big part of that factor of us being more consistent,” Jansen said. “He got himself into the national team, became the No. 1, that also is something that is very good for your self-confidence.” But Matt, as a person and as a player — how I’ve got to know him — when you think of a growth mindset and trying to develop yourself as an athlete, one of the guys I would mention first is Matt Freese. So that goes hand in hand, if you ask me.” 

Freese will be a big part of how far NYCFC will go once the playoffs begin for them next week in Charlotte, but another factor could play into their success as well. 

Hannes Wolf, New York City FC’s second-leading scorer, did not practice on Friday. 

The club had some players battling with the flu earlier in the week, but Jansen said that Wolf’s absence had to do with “some physical issues,” though he did not specify what that meant. 

Wolf will be monitored over the next few days, and if he isn’t able to play on Tuesday, it won’t change Jansen’s approach to Game 1. 

“We have some other good attackers who can take his place if he’s not available,” he said.