Locomotive Add Insurance with Goalkeeper Ben Beaury

With Logan Ketterer on a short term loan to Portland Timbers FC of MLS, the big question was whether head coach Mark Lowry would roll in goal with 19-year old Marco Canales or a veteran netminder? Today, Locomotive FC announced that they have signed former Reno 1868 FC starting goalkeeper Benjamin Beaury for the 2021 season, pending league and federation approval.

"Bringing Ben on board makes a lot of sense in the current situation," Head Coach and Technical Director, Mark Lowry said in the official team release. "With Logan [Ketterer] leaving for this short period we feel we needed to add a bit of experience to our goalkeeping department. Ben played every game for Reno last season so now he has plenty of Championship experience."

Lowry added that he has been please with Canales, but he wants to continue his development since is only 19. Beaury gives them an older player with USL experience and he was successful with Reno last season. He made 12 appearances while on loan from New Mexico United including two in the postseason. He finished fifth in the USL in saves in 2020 with 49.

The truth is, Rio Grande Valley FC has been terrific to start the year and it would be a ton of pressure on Canales for him to be thrust into a situation like that this weekend. Adding Beaury or any other veteran goalkeeper is a no-brainer for Coach Lowry and his club. Most teams rely on only one goalkeeper for the season, but there is always the possibility of injury or a loan that changes things. That is exactly what happened with Ketterer and he made the most of his first MLS opportunity last weekend with the shutout against San Jose. The match between Locomotive FC and RGV kicks off at 7:30pm Saturday night at Southwest University Park.