No Laughing Matter Although He’s A Comedian, Shadow Keeper Takes The Playoffs Seriously

The general consensus of the Spokane Shadow soccer team is that goalkeeper Josh Fouts is the team comedian.

Opponents haven’t found too much to laugh about when they face the Gonzaga University junior.

Until a meaningless loss last weekend, Fouts led all keepers in the USISL Premier League in goals-against average.

“They always say goalkeepers are a little different than the rest of the players, and he definitely holds to that,” coach Sean Bushey said. “However, he definitely performs well in pressure situations. That ability to relax probably helps. He has a penchant for making big plays.”

Fouts will have to be on top of his game this weekend as the Shadow host the Northwest Division tournament at Albi Stadium.

“One step at a time. It’s single elimination. We can’t look too far down the road,” Fouts said during a serious moment. “All teams in the conference are good. We’ve gone into OT with probably most of them. (Bellingham is) a good team, not someone to take lightly or overlook. They could pull an upset.”

It will be harder with Fouts in goal. He had a 10-3 record (10-1 in league) and 1.28 goals against average after a 3-1 non-league loss at San Francisco dropped him to fourth.

“I expected him to be able to perform,” Bushey said. “He had a good season at Gonzaga. He went through a couple of games in the middle of the (Shadow) season where he didn’t perform as well and that gave the other guys a chance, but I think competition keeps the guys sharp. (Gonzaga) plays in a tough conference (West Coast) so we knew he could handle situations.”

Fouts, who plays the stereotypical role of his native Hawaii with loud shirts and sandals off the field, would agree with all of that.

Before school was out, Chad Bedall was expected to be the Shadow keeper but he broke an arm in preseason practice. Brian Mullen of Mead and the University of San Francisco and Pete van de Ven from the University of Washington came in to give the Shadow depth.

“Chad comes to practice every day and Pete and Brian are awesome goalies,” Fouts said. “I was in the right place at the right time. Lucky. Any of us three goalies could start and play as well as any of the others. We’re all equal in our skills but we have different strengths. Pete and Brian have strengths that may not be mine, and they can help me with that. It’s great to have three or four goalies around who are so knowledgeable about the game, and good guys, too.”

Fouts said his strengths were communication and consistency.

“Pete and Brian are both excellent at shot stopping. They both definitely have helped me pull that part of my game up,” he said. “They both have great distribution. I’ve really watched how they play the ball and who they play it to.”

For all his on-field strengths, though, Fouts’ biggest contributions may come off the field.

“On the road trips people like to have him in the van. He’ll keep them on their toes,” Bushey said. “He has his own personality, very unique. He’s very outgoing. He’s not afraid to strike up conversation with anyone he’s next to, on a plane, in a restaurant. He keeps us light. You’re always waiting to see what he comes up with next, that’s for sure. He’s such an off-the-cuff guy, he can respond to any situation … any line. He’s hard to explain, it’s hard to come up with a specific story.”

Fouts said, “It’s my personality. I try not to change too much on and off the field but I take it seriously on the field. I enjoy the role of jokester but the UW guys live with me and they’ve brought so much laughter to the team. They’re a bunch of clowns and good players. They give me someone I can tag along with instead of going alone and being labeled the clown.”

Fouts always wanted to get off the islands, so he went to college in Illinois before being lured to Gonzaga by assistant David Chattergui, who coached him a couple years in high school.

“I’m really happy I came (to Gonzaga). Spokane is a good town … it’s hot like Hawaii and the people are friendly like Hawaii.”

He’s not on the island, but he has fit right in.

“Sometimes he’s on his own planet,” Bushey said. “His first comment to the press was he sings to himself (to keep his mind in a game when the Shadow offense is dominating). I can see that happening. Sometimes you shake your head and say, ‘Yeah, that’s Josh.”’

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