Saunders out for 2013 following successful ACL surgery

Backup goalkeeper Josh Saunders has successfully undergone knee surgery to repair his torn ACL, suffered in a match against FC Dallas two weeks ago. According to a club press release, Saunders is expected to be out for six months, which rules him out until perhaps 2014 preseason.

Saunders, 32, can count himself terribly unlucky to have suffered the injury, which seemed to have happened in a rather freak accident during the match. There was no contact with another player that seemed to have been problematic, and after nearly coming off before the first half and soldiering on, he seemed to have done the bulk of the damage during an early second-half goal kick.

With Saunders out, Jeff Attinella steps up to second-choice. Although currently in his debut MLS season, Attinella has good experience, having played with Tampa Bay Rowdies in 2011 and 2012 after being drafted by Real Salt Lake. Indeed, he won the NASL championship in 2012 with the Rowdies.

Homegrown goalkeeper Lalo Fernandez should naturally step up to third-choice (as he was last season). It is a slight blow for the player, who might have benefited from further loan experience to gain professional experience this year.