The Vancouver Whitecaps called upon a Penticton-born goalkeeper to save the day on July 13 after the team suffered multiple injuries and fell behind 2-1 against FC Cincinnati.
Isaac Boehmer, 20, made his MLS debut last night, stepping in at the 45th minute after the team鈥檚 starting goalkeeper Cody Cropper was forced to leave the game due to injury.
Boehmer, a former Okanagan Falls resident and product of Penticton鈥檚 Pinnacles FC, was stellar in his first taste of professional action as he made a number of key saves helping Vancouver leave Cincinnati with a 2-2 draw.
鈥淚saac was monumental,鈥� Whitecaps Head Coach Vanni Sartini told reporters after the game. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not only the big saves but for a kid who鈥檚 never played in the MLS to be thrown in the middle of this game with a lot of fans can be overwhelming. We know Isaac is a cool cat and he maintained his composure.鈥�
The 20-year-old first signed with the Whitecaps in August 2020 after spending time in Germany for a training stint with FC Schalke 04鈥檚 youth academy.
Boehmer went on to climb through the Vancouver ranks thanks to his efforts at the team鈥檚 Okanagan academy centre.
After the injury to Cropper during Wednesday night鈥檚 match, Boehmer was approached on the sideline by his head coach. It was the moment he knew his lifelong dream of playing in the league was about to come true.
鈥淚 was told to start jogging around and to get ready for anything,鈥� Boehmer recalled to Black Press. 鈥淚t was super exciting.鈥�
His 鈥渕onumental鈥� performance, particularly in the 86th minute, helped keep the score tied after the Whitecaps鈥� Cristian D谩jome scored just four minutes earlier.
鈥淲hen I鈥檓 in the moment, I鈥檓 focused on the game,鈥� Boehmer said. 鈥淎fterwards, though, I definitely thought about all the sacrifices everyone has made for me鈥eachers, coaches, my family. I鈥檓 just so thankful.鈥�
While the goalkeeper will never forget his debut performance, what made him most happy on Wednesday was that his team walked out of Cincinnati鈥檚 TQL stadium with one point.
鈥淚鈥檝e only played 45 minutes so there鈥檚 still a lot more proving of myself I have to do,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his was another stepping stone in my career and I鈥檓 ready to keep on going.鈥�
His friends and family in the Okanagan, however, didn鈥檛 exactly show the same level of calmness after the Whitecaps鈥� 2-2 draw.
鈥淚t took me a while to go through all of the text messages I got from people,鈥� Boehmer said with a laugh. 鈥淎ll my close friends and people I grew up with were just so happy for me.鈥�
Next up for the Whitecaps is a visit to Portland for a showdown with the Timbers on Sunday, July 17.
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