Concussion knocks Bendik out of finale

Orlando City goalkeeper the season finale against Philadelphia.

Bendik was hit in the head with a ball during training Saturday morning and the club decided to put him through concussion protocol.

Orlando City backup keeper started the final match, backed up by former Orlando City B keeper who the club signed prior to the game as an extreme hardship goalkeeper.

Bendik played every minute of every game for Orlando City leading to the finale and he leads the league in saves with 118.

Edwards, 25, has been biding his time since Orlando City selected him third overall in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft. He’s learned behind Bendik and former keepers

and the past three seasons. did not play in This year, Edwards was loaned to OCB and played as the USL team’s starting keeper, recording 80 saves before he was recalled to the MLS side in August following a season-ending neck injury to

Fenlason took over for Edwards with OCB, but his contract expired last week following the final match of the season. He started seven of OCB’s last eight matches and had 23 saves, a 3-3-1 record and two clean sheets during that time.

Edwards’ MLS debut did not turn out the way he hoped, ending in a 6-1 loss to Philadelphia, but he said he had family in the stands to cheer him on and will use the experience to improve in the future.

“Obviously excited to get my debut. I’ve been waiting a while to get that under my belt,” Edwards said. ‘”I hope to build on any progress I made during the season, put in work in the offseason and come back stronger.”

Orlando City coach stood behind Edwards and said he is a young goalkeeper who the club believes in moving forward.

“For goalkeepers, it takes awhile for them to mature,” Kreis said. “We chalk that one up to an experience factor for him and next time he plays, it won't be his first MLS game, so he'll be a little better affair for him.”