Joe Bendik

Joe Bendik News

Bendik signed with the Timbers on Feb. 24, 2012, after two seasons playing abroad for Norwegian top-flight club Sogndal. Previous to his professional career, Bendik spent four years at Clemson University. He finished his time with the Tigers among the school’s career leaders in shutouts, saves, saves per game, wins and minutes played.

2012: Made five appearances (3 starts) in his first MLS season ... Came on as 67th-minute sub for an injured Troy Perkins on April 28, making his MLS debut against the Montreal Impact ... Also made a substitute appearance against Seattle Sounders FC on Sept. 15, coming on for an injured Donovan Ricketts in the second half ... Made two saves against Seattle in Portland’s comeback 1-1 draw ... Started three straight matches Sept. 19-29 ... Made his first MLS start Sept. 19 in a 2-2 road draw against San Jose ... His season-high five saves against the Earthquakes matched the most saves made by a Timbers MLS goalkeeper in their first start with the club; the other was Adin Brown in the club’s inaugural MLS match at Colorado on March 19, 2011 ... Earned honorable mention on the MLSsoccer.com Team of the Week for Week 29 (Sept. 25) ... Recorded a 0-1-2 record as the Timbers starting goalkeeper, including a 1-1 draw against D.C. United on Sept. 29 ... Named the MLS W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian of the Month for July for raising awareness and fundraising efforts for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the organization’s nationwide Great Strides event ... Played the second half of the club’s friendlies against Valencia CF (Spain) on May 23 and Aston Villa FC (England) on July 24 ... Additionally, started six games for the Timbers Reserves in the MLS Reserve League, recording 16 saves and posting a 1-4-1 record.

2011: Began the year as the starter in goal for Sogndal, a member of the Tippeligaen, Norway’s top football league … Started the first two matches of the season, making his Tippligaen debut March 20 against Strømsgodset IF … Persistent elbow injury limited playing time during the season … Started the final two games of the season, in­cluding a 2-1 victory over eventual league champion Molde FK … Finished the season with a 4-1-0 record, including one shutout.

2010: Worked his way into a starting role as a rookie, making his Sogndal debut May 12, in a 4-0 win over Ardal in a Norwegian Football Cup tie ... Ended the season having started four league matches, helping the club earn promotion to Norway’s top flight ... Recorded a shutout Oct. 20 against Fredrikstad ... Played in two total Norwegian Football Cup fixtures

INTERNATIONAL: Was a member of the U.S. U-17 Resi­dency Program in Bradenton, Fla., in 2005 ... Represented the United States at the U-17 and U-18 levels … Helped the U.S. U-17 National Team to the finals of the Ballymena International Tournament in Northern Ireland in 2005 ... Faced Brazil as a member of the U.S. U-18 National Team in December 2006 ... Led the U.S. U-18s to a fourth-place finish in the 2006 Slovakia Cup.

COLLEGE: Was a three-year starter at Clemson Univer­sity … Finished his collegiate career ranked among the school’s career leaders in several goalkeeper categories, including wins, saves, shutouts and goalkeeper minutes played ... Played in 61 career games for the Tigers, starting all but two appearances ... Recorded a career-best 1.39 goals-against average during his senior season in 2009, while starting all 18 matches played ... Led the ACC in both saves and saves per game as a junior (2008) ... Claimed All-ACC second-team honors and earned a spot on the NSCAA/adidas All-South Third-Team … During his sopho­more season in 2007, recorded wins against Top 25 ranked schools Virginia, Furman and Boston College.

PERSONAL: Pronounced “BEND-ik” ... Was a NSCAA High School All-American at Edison Academic Center High School in Bradenton, Fla. … Attended the U.S. U-18 National Team camp in Los Angeles and the Elite Soccer Program (ESP) camp in Hartford, Conn., while in high school … Majored in management at Clemson.