--- title: This Major League Soccer champion got started at 20th and Olney description: John McCarthy, ’14, won MLS Cup last fall with LAFC. image: https://explore.lasalle.edu/hubfs/JohnMcCarthy-001.png --- [![la-salle-logo-full-color-rev](https://explore.lasalle.edu/hubfs/logos/la-salle-logo-full-color-rev.svg "la-salle-logo-full-color-rev")](https://www.lasalle.edu/) - [Request Info](https://share.hsforms.com/1ZvFm_aNXRPiYaywF0r0PPQbvlnq) - [Visit](https://www.lasalle.edu/visit/) - [Apply](https://www.lasalle.edu/apply/home/) - [Give](https://www.lasalle.edu/charterchallenge/) # This Major League Soccer champion got started at 20th and Olney [Written by La Salle University](https://explore.lasalle.edu/blog/author/la-salle-university) | July 6, 2023 ![](https://explore.lasalle.edu/hubfs/JohnMcCarthy-001.png) ### John McCarthy, ’14, won MLS Cup last fall with LAFC. John McCarthy, ’14, can add two new lines to his professional soccer résumé: Major League Soccer champion and MLS Cup MVP. An all-time great with La Salle University’s men’s soccer program, McCarthy and Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) won the MLS championship by defeating the Philadelphia Union, 3-0, in a penalty shootout following a 3-3 draw in MLS Cup on Nov. 5. A reserve goalkeeper for LAFC, McCarthy came on in the final minutes of extra time after the club’s primary goalie sustained an injury. That, alone, made history. (McCarthy was the first goalkeeper to enter the MLS championship game as a substitute.) Moments later, he made two saves in the shootout and became the first goalie to shut out an opponent in an MLS Cup penalty shootout. For his effort, [McCarthy earned the MLS Cup MVP award](https://twitter.com/MLS/status/1589033126566965250). As he received the honor, McCarthy dabbed away tears with his uniform—revealing a La Salle Soccer t-shirt underneath. At La Salle, [McCarthy remains the Explorers’ all-time leader with 468 saves](https://goexplorers.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/john-mccarthy/4994), 28 shutouts, and 75 games played. He also holds the best career save percentage in program history. --- [Prev](https://explore.lasalle.edu/blog/top-6-reasons-for-earning-a-liberal-arts-degree) #### [Top 6 reasons for earning a liberal arts degree](https://explore.lasalle.edu/blog/top-6-reasons-for-earning-a-liberal-arts-degree) [Next](https://explore.lasalle.edu/blog/applying-to-college-how-to-tell-your-story) #### [Applying to college: How to tell your story](https://explore.lasalle.edu/blog/applying-to-college-how-to-tell-your-story) ## Recommended for you [![move-in](https://explore.lasalle.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/MoveIn-004.jpg?width=352&name=MoveIn-004.jpg) student-stories](https://explore.lasalle.edu/blog/this-place-feels-like-the-right-fit-stories-from-3-current-students) ### [This Place Feels Like the Right Fit: Stories from 3 Current Students](https://explore.lasalle.edu/blog/this-place-feels-like-the-right-fit-stories-from-3-current-students) At La Salle University, students turn their dreams into reality. 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[READ MORE](https://explore.lasalle.edu/blog/this-major-league-soccer-champion-got-started-at-20th-and-olney) June 1, 2022 [![melanie-bates](https://explore.lasalle.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/MelanieBates-001.jpeg?width=352&name=MelanieBates-001.jpeg) student-stories](https://explore.lasalle.edu/blog/from-olney-avenue-to-the-ivy-league-a-students-success-story) ### [From Olney Avenue to the Ivy League: A Student's Success Story](https://explore.lasalle.edu/blog/from-olney-avenue-to-the-ivy-league-a-students-success-story) This May, Melanie Bates, ’22, will become the first graduate of an accelerated program that puts... 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