There will be a new face in this year's MLS All-Star Goalie Wars presented by Old Spice.
18-year-old Huntsville City FC and United States youth national team 'keeper Will Mackay looks to be the next MLS NEXT Pro star to shine on the big stage at the All-Star Skills Challenge presented by AT&T.
The idea of going up against defending Goalie Wars champion Pedro Cruz, plus potential matchups against the best in MLS and Liga MX, brought an ear-to-ear smile to the young goalkeeper's face.
"I mean, the goal is to win, of course," Mackay told MLSNEXTPro.com. "You can ask people around me, I'm a super competitive guy. So, I'm going to go out there and give it my all and try to bring the championship to Huntsville."
League elite
Mackay paved his way to Goalie Wars by being one of the best in MLS NEXT Pro this season, currently ranking in the top five in clean sheets, goals saved, and penalties saved, almost single-handedly keeping HCFC alive in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
Also known to take matters into his own hands when needed, Mackay has shown he can get the better of opposing goalkeepers when needed.
In MLS NEXT Pro, ties result in a shootout for a valuable extra point, and he's among the netminders who do not mind taking shots from the spot from time to time. Last week, he scored the dagger to get Huntsville the extra point after a 2-2 tie with Chicago Fire FC II.
"It's given me an opportunity to showcase myself and to put MLS NEXT Pro on a platform," Mackay said of the Goalie Wars selection. "And to represent Huntsville specifically is a privilege, and I'm excited for it.”
All-Star status
Joining the Goalie Wars cast at this year's Skills Challenge is an honor unto itself, and a unanimous theme among all participants over the years is to prioritize soaking in the moment.
"It's a great opportunity, I'm really excited for it," Mackay said. "I get to brush shoulders at All-Star Week with some of the best players in North America, and be there with Nashville's first-team 'keeper, Brian Schwake, so that'll be fun to have us both there and see a few familiar faces as well. But it'll be a really good opportunity, obviously, to have the other guys representing MLS and MLS NEXT Pro there.
"There are a few good goalkeepers around the league that I'm excited to go up against."
Catch Mackay competing in Goalie Wars at the MLS All-Star Skills Challenge presented by Old Spice on Tuesday, July 28, streaming live on Apple TV.
