Jay Nolly

Acquired via trade with Vancouver in December 2011, goalkeeper Jay Nolly returns to the Midwest with the Chicago Fire having won two collegiate championships with Indiana University in 2003-04. Having previously played with Real Salt Lake and D.C. United, Nolly joined Vancouver at the start of 2008, leading the side to that year’s USL First Division Title, back to the Final in 2009, before earning the 2010 USSF Division Two Goalkeeper of the Year Award. Nolly’s veteran experience will serve him well as he provides cover for Sean Johnson during the 2012 campaign.

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
2011: Nolly started in goal during Whitecaps FC's MLS debut on Mar. 19, as Vancouver defeated Canadian rivals Toronto FC 4-2 at Empire Field. He then recorded Whitecaps FC's first-ever clean sheet in MLS following a 0-0 home draw with Chivas USA on Apr. 16. 2007: On Dec. 11, 2006, Nolly was traded to D.C. United in a deal that saw American soccer star Freddy Adu and goalkeeper Nick Rimando head in the other direction to RSL. After trials with Scottish Premier League giants Celtic and Romanian club Dinamo Bucharest, Nolly signed on with United for the 2007 MLS campaign on Feb. 16. His lone first-team appearance for D.C. was against his former club RSL on June 23. Despite making seven saves, Nolly and United lost 2-1 in Utah. His other start that year was also a losing effort, as United crashed out of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup following a 1-0 away defeat to United Soccer Leagues Second Division club Harrisburg City Islanders on July 11. 2006: As an understudy to Real Salt Lake (RSL) number one Scott Garlick, Nolly saw limited first-team action in his second MLS season. In a June 9 defeat away to Colorado Rapids, Nolly earned a clean sheet in the second half of the game after replacing Garlick at halftime. His only start of the campaign came in a 6-0 away defeat to New York Red Bulls on Aug. 26, where he made seven saves for the club. The goalkeeper also started RSL's two matches in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, as he faced former United Soccer Leagues First Division club Virginia Beach Mariners in the third round on July 11 and MLS rivals Colorado in fourth round on Aug. 2. 2005: Nolly was selected by expansion club Real Salt Lake (RSL) in the second round (22nd overall) of the 2005 MLS SuperDraft on Jan. 14. In his first start for RSL on May 14, Nolly recorded nine saves to earn the Utah-based club a 2-1 home victory over Los Angeles Galaxy. The keeper made a total of five first-team appearances in his rookie campaign, which included a career-high 11 saves during a 5-1 away defeat to future club D.C. United on Aug. 31. Nolly also made five saves in a 2-2 draw at San Jose Earthquakes on Oct. 8. The keeper also started RSL's Lamar Hunt US Open Cup third-round extra-time defeat at former USL-1 club Minnesota Thunder on July 13.

UNITED STATES SOCCER FEDERATION DIVISION-2 PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE
2010: Named USSF D-2 Pro League Goalkeeper of the Year and to the league's Best XI, Nolly was also named Whitecaps FC Most Valuable Player for a second straight season after starting all 38 of the club's USSF D-2 and Nutrilite Canadian Championship matches and registering an impressive goals-against average of 0.71. By starting the playoff semifinal, second leg, match at home Puerto Rico Islanders on Oct. 17, Nolly broke the Whitecaps FC ironman record of 78 consecutive matches that was previously held by former 'Caps striker Joey Gjertsen. With 18 clean sheets, Nolly helped set a new Whitecaps FC record for shutouts in a single season. He also moved into second place in the Whitecaps FC career shutout list after claiming his 27th clean sheet with Vancouver during a goalless home draw versus Crystal Palace Baltimore on May 8. The shutout moved Nolly ahead of the legendary Phil Parkes in the club's all-time shutout list. Nolly then became only the second goalkeeper in Whitecaps FC history to pass the 100-appearance mark when he played in a 2-2 home draw versus Austin Aztex on Aug. 29. He then brought a remarkable extended run in the 'Caps goal to an end on Sept. 11, as youngster Simon Thomas replaced him in the late stages of a 3-0 victory at Crystal Palace Baltimore. Spanning three seasons, Nolly's run saw him play 6,472 consecutive minutes in the Whitecaps FC goal.

UNITED SOCCER LEAGUES FIRST DIVISION
2009: Nolly was named the Whitecaps Most Valuable Player after playing in every minute (3,600) of the club's 40 USL-1 and Nutrilite Canadian Championship matches that year. He was the first Whitecaps goalkeeper to play every minute in a single season since fellow American Arnie Mausser achieved the feat during the 1977 North American Soccer League campaign. Nolly posted three clean sheets and a goals-against average of 0.25 during the club's Nutrilite Canadian Championship campaign before captaining the Whitecaps in their final USL-1 regular season match, as they defeated Cleveland City Stars 2-1 at home on Sept. 18. Nolly then helped the club to the USL-1 playoff semifinals after making an important penalty save from Daniel Paladini in the second leg of Vancouver's first round playoff series versus Carolina RailHawks on Sept. 27. The penalty save allowed the Whitecaps to earn a 0-0 away draw and win the series 1-0 on aggregate. 2008: Nolly was named Whitecaps Defender of the Year after recording 11 clean sheets in all competitions during his first season with the club. After not conceding a goal in the second half of Vancouver's 2-1 international friendly win over MLS side Los Angeles Galaxy in Edmonton, Alberta, on May 13, Nolly made his league debut in a 1-0 away win over Portland Timbers on May 24. He replaced Srdjan Djekanovic, who had started the club's first six USL-1 matches in goal that year. The result was also the first of three straight shutouts that Nolly recorded in May, as he kept both Charleston Battery and Minnesota Thunder off the scoresheet on May 28 and 31 respectively. Nolly, who earned USL-1 Team of the Week honours in Weeks Seven and 19, played a key role in the club's run to the USL-1 championship title, having earned a clean sheet in the playoff quarterfinal, first leg win over Minnesota on Sept. 26. Despite his controversial red card in the semifinal, first leg defeat at Canadian rivals Montreal Impact on Oct. 3, Nolly started in Vancouver's win over Puerto Rico Islanders in the USL-1 Championship Final on Oct. 12. The keeper also played in all four Nutrilite Canadian Championship matches that season, with Nolly performing heroically to earn the shoutout in a 1-0 victory at MLS side Toronto FC on July 1.

COLLEGE
Nolly had a stellar four-year career at Indiana University, where he became only the second Hoosiers goalkeeper to earn All-America honours. He will be most remembered for helping Indiana win back-to-back NCAA Division I championship titles in 2003 and 2004. 2004: Nolly capped his college career in fine style by claiming a second-straight NCAA Division I title. His two saves in a penalty shootout against University of California-Santa Barbara helped the Hoosiers win the College Cup final in Carson, California, on Dec. 11. His efforts saw him claim the tournament’s Defensive MVP award for a second-straight year and selection to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-America Third Team. He also claimed a third-straight All-Big Ten First Team honour after posting a Conference-high 11 shutouts, while his goals-against-average of 0.63 ranked him number one in the Big Ten for a third-straight year, as well as sixth overall in NCAA Division I. His career at Indiana saw him finish with the fourth-best record in career wins (51) and shutouts (30) at the school. 2003: The keeper played every minute for the Hoosiers, as they went on to win Big Ten and NCAA College Cup championship titles. He was named the College Cup’s Defensive Most Valuable Player after making 10 saves in the championship final win over St John’s University. His Conference-high 11 shutouts earned him a second All-Big Ten First Team honour, and his 0.64 goals-against-average not only ranked him number one in the Big Ten, but 10th in NCAA Division I. 2002: In his first season as a starter, Nolly posted eight shutouts and a goals-against-average of 0.78 with the Hoosiers. His GAA ranked him number one in the Big Ten Conference and 17th in NCAA Division I that year. He also earned the first of three All-Big Ten First Team honours in 2002. 2001: After red-shirting his freshman year, Nolly made five appearances for Indiana and did not concede a goal in 133 minutes of play. Though he saw limited action, the Hoosiers had an excellent season in 2001. They won the Big Ten Conference title with a win over Michigan State University and reached the NCAA College Cup final before losing to University of North Carolina on Dec. 16.

INTERNATIONAL
U-17: As a 16-year-old, Nolly was a member of the United States U-17 national team program, where he attended three different training camps in California and Florida in 1996. At the time, the squad included Los Angeles Galaxy and USA international striker Landon Donovan.

HIGH SCHOOL/AMATEUR
Nolly attended Chatfield High School in Littleton, Colorado, where he was a three-time All-Conference selection. In his senior year, the keeper was named Athlete of the Year at Chatfield and Jefferson County soccer MVP. In 1999, Nolly earned second team All-Conference honours as a kicker for the Chatfield High School football team. His amateur soccer career included being part of the US Youth Soccer Region IV Olympic Development Program (ODP) in 1996. With the Region IV ODP team, Nolly participated on soccer trips to Costa Rica in 1997 and Germany in 1998. The keeper started playing organized soccer as a four-year-old with Club Columbine, who later merged with Lakewood United Soccer Club to form Colorado Rush Soccer Club in Littleton. He played as a midfielder/forward until the age of 13, when he changed his position to goalkeeper.

PERSONAL
Nolly majored in Education at Indiana University before marrying his fiancée Alicia in her native Utah on Dec. 6, 2008. His parents are Diane and Joe Nolly and he has two older brothers named Eric and Alex. The keeper also has an uncle who had a tour of duty in Afghanistan with the US Armed Forces. Though born in Florida, and raised in Maryland and Colorado, Nolly currently resides in Salt Lake City, Utah.

INTERESTING FACTS
An avid fly-fisherman, Nolly was a member of the Indiana University Bass Fishing Club, where in 2001, the team claimed the Big Ten Conference bass fishing championship. The keeper has donated his time to worthy causes like Kicks for Kids, Read Across America, the Boys and Girls Clubs, Make a Wish Foundation, and the Salvation Army. He enjoys both punk and country music, as well as many outdoor pursuits when not playing soccer. His favourite TV show is The Simpsons, while his favourite foods are sushi, Greek and Italian. He admires former Manchester United and Denmark goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel and is a big fan of both the English Premier League and National Hockey League's Colorado Avalanche. Before the start of each half in a match, Nolly touches the left post, then the right post for luck.