Mark Dodd


Mark Dodd is an American former professional soccer goalkeeper. Dodd spent one season in the Major Indoor Soccer League, six in the American Professional Soccer League, and four in Major League Soccer with the Dallas Burn. He also earned fifteen caps with the US national team.

High school and college

Dodd attended Richardson High School, graduating in 1984. He then attended Duke University, where he played college soccer. He became first-team goalkeeper in 1986 and backstopped them to the NCAA Championship. It was Duke's first national championship in any sport.

Playing career

MISL

Following the completion of his collegiate career, Dodd signed with the Dallas Sidekicks of the MISL.

APSL

In 1990, Dodd signed with the Colorado Foxes of the American Professional Soccer League. This was the first year of the APSL, which was formed by the merger of the Western Soccer League and the American Soccer League. For the first season, Dodd was named APSL West Player of the Year and the first team All-Star goalkeeper. In 1992 and 1993, the Foxes won back-to-back APSL championships.

MLS

The Dallas Burn of Major League Soccer selected Dodd in the 6th round of the 1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft. He became the team's starting keeper. He played in 31 games in the Burn's inaugural season and was named MLS's first Goalkeeper of the Year. Dodd helped lead the Burn to the 1997 US Open Cup championship. He played four seasons for Dallas, setting records and making consecutive trips to the MLS All-Star game, as well as being named to the AT&T Best XI. In 1999, Matt Jordan replaced Dodd as the starting goalkeeper six games into the season when Dodd tore ligaments in his right hand. He had surgery on his right hand in February 2000 and retired soon after.

National team

Dodd collected fifteen caps with the U.S. national team, his first coming in 1988 against Guatemala and his last against China in 1997. Throughout his US National Team goalkeeping career, he earned seven shutouts and also held a US National Team record for most consecutive shutout minutes.

Honors

Duke University