FRISCO - Just a week into the 2018 preseason, Jimmy Maurer is settling in to his new home with the help of a familiar face.
When FC Dallas signed Maurer this offseason, they not only knew him because of his week-long stint with the team in 2017, but because goalkeeping coach Drew Keeshan worked with the now 29-year-old way back during his youth days in suburban Atlanta, developing Maurer from ages 14-16, along with other eventual MLS 'keepers Sean Johnson and Joe Bendik.
Getting back into rhythm with his old coach 10 years later is taking a little adjustment.
“It’s been an adjustment for me speeding up some things and small details and changes, but I think it’s going to help me a lot,” Maurer of his first week back with Keeshan. “I’m excited to keep working with him and the other goalkeepers here - to really try and push my own level and hopefully as a goalkeeping core we can all get better.”
As preseason wears on, Maurer knows there lies an opportunity for him on the horizon with CCL and MLS games coming up fast during Dallas’ compressed early schedule. Homegrown Jesse Gonzalez holds onto the likely starter role, but likely won’t play all of Dallas’ matches across both competitions.
While the first week of preseason was fitness-heavy, the newcomer is excited to get into game action and prove his worth in net, while pushing those around him to get better as well.
“It just helps that you’re pushing each other because then no one’s going to drop their level because you know the next guy is chomping at the bit,” he said. “We are always excited to get games in those minutes in that’s where the fun is that’s where you want to compete and trying to get those wins and those points and your always excited about that.”
