Steven Caldwell returns with this week’s Race for the Roster and Major League Soccer’s opening weekend put the spotlight on the two men who are vying for Canada’s No. 1 shirt at this summer’s FIFA World Cup. While of Canada’s two goalkeepers played better than the other, both walked away with losses in their first match for their respective new clubs.
The 2025 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year with Minnesota United, Dayne St. Clair made his debut on Saturday for the defending MLS Cup champions, Inter Miami, against Los Angeles FC. Meanwhile, Maxime Crepeau made his bow for Orlando City following two seasons with the Portland Timbers against the newly rechristened Red Bull New York managed by Toronto FC legend Michael Bradley.
No goalkeeper on Matchday 1 made more saves than Crepeau’s 11, but he still surrendered two goals in a 2-1 loss. While Crepeau acquitted himself nicely in his Lions debut, it was a rougher first outing for St. Clair with the champions. Inter was battered 3-0 by LAFC, who had the debuting Stephen Eustáquio in their midfield.
It was on the second goal where St. Clair was particularly at fault. With Inter on the front foot in the LAFC half, the hosts broke the other way with Timmy Tillman launching a deep ball for Gabon forward Denis Bouanga. St. Clair came off of his line and right out of the 18-yard box in a misguided attempt to meet it. With St. Clair stuck in no man’s land, Bouanga simply headed the ball over the stationary ‘keeper and slotted home into an empty net in the 73rd minute to effectively put the tie to bed.
It would be foolish to make sweeping conclusions after a single match, but as Caldwell points out, playing on the same team with the likes of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul is going to have St. Clair under a microscope like never before in his MLS career. Last week, St. Clair told TSN’s Matt Scianitti that he welcomed this new pressure. It’s now a matter of living up to it.
While Caldwell’s starting XI and full Canada squads are unchanged in Week 35, he has made one adjustment on the periphery of the team.
Caldwell has taken veteran Timbers centre-back Kamal Miller out of the picture and replaced him with 23-year-old Vancouver Whitecaps defender Ralph Priso. A native of Toronto, Priso is a product of the Toronto FC academy and made his pro debut for the club in 2020. He was traded to the Colorado Rapids in 2022 before landing with the Whitecaps in 2024. Priso emerged as a key contributor to the Vancouver team that went to the MLS Cup last season, making 28 appearances in 2025. He played al 90 minutes in the team’s 1-0 season-opening victory over Real Salt Lake on Saturday.
Though Priso has represented Canada at various youth levels, he’s still looking for his first senior cap. He played 69 minutes in Canada’s 1-0 win over Guatemala in a January B-level friendly, meaning that he is at least on Jesse Marsch’s radar. But it remains to be seen if there is time for Priso to force himself into the equation before next summer.
--
Race for the Roster: Week 35 (4-4-2)
Forwards
STARTERS: Jonathan David (Juventus) and Tani Oluwaseyi (Villarreal)
BENCH: Promise David (Union SG) INJ, Daniel Jebbison (Preston North End, on loan from Bournemouth), Cyle Larin (Southampton, on loan from Mallorca) and Marcelo Flores (Tigres)
Midfield and Defenders
STARTING MIDFIELDERS: Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich) INJ, Ismaël Koné (Sassuolo), Stephen Eustaquio (Los Angeles FC, on loan from Porto) and Tajon Buchanan (Villarreal)
BENCH: Jacob Shaffelburg (Los Angeles FC) INJ, Liam Millar (Hull City), Nathan Saliba (Anderlecht), Mathieu Choiniere (Los Angeles FC) and Ali Ahmed (Norwich City)
STARTING DEFENDERS: Richie Laryea (Toronto FC), Derek Cornelius (Rangers, on loan from Marseille), Moise Bombito (Nice) INJ and Alistair Johnston (Celtic) INJ
BENCH: Niko Sigur (Hajduk Split), Alfie Jones (Middlesbrough)INJ, Joel Waterman (Chicago Fire) and Luc de Fougerolles (Dender, on loan from Fulham)
Goalkeeper
STARTER: Dayne St. Clair (Inter Miami)
BENCH: Maxime Crepeau (Orlando City) and Owen Goodman (Huddersfield Town, on loan from Crystal Palace)
IN THE HUNT: James Pantemis (Portland Timbers) and Jonathan Sirois (FC Dallas)
