Patrick Schulte shines for U.S. Olympic team

The U.S. Olympic soccer team has advanced out of the group stage for the first time since 2000. Crew goalkeeper Patrick Schulte has played as big of a role as anyone in helping them to the quarterfinals.

After an opening 3-0 loss to France, Schulte has stopped nine of ten shots on goal and has looked on top of his game in wins over New Zealand and Guinea. His clean sheet against Guinea is the first by an active MLS goalkeeper for the U.S. at the Summer Olympics.

Schulte’s effort has not gone unnoticed. Tim Howard, the most capped goalkeeper in U.S. soccer history, is serving as a color analyst for NBC’s coverage. During the match against Guinea, Howard said Schulte looked confident and in control of his game.

The importance of pulling on a Team USA jersey on the Olympic stage is not lost on Schulte, who has a large group of family and friends supporting him in Paris. He told NCAA.com, “Any chance you get to represent your country is something that you'll never take for granted. And just to be able to say that I'm doing that in the Olympics, with this group of guys that we've gotten to become very close with, it's something that I'll definitely remember forever."  

In his short professional career, he’s won an MLS NEXT Pro Cup, an MLS Cup, and is now zeroing in on an Olympic medal. If this U.S. team is going to make it to the podium, Schulte is going to have to tap into his big game experience and be at his very best.

The U.S. takes on Morocco at 9AM Friday morning for the chance to move to the semifinals. If they can come away with a win, they’ll take on either Japan or Spain, who also play on Friday.