Joe Bendik had his contract extended three years beyond the 2017 season. (Reinhold Matay/USA TODAY Sports)

ORLANDO, Fla. — Huntington, N.Y. native and goalkeeper Joe Bendik signed a three-year extention to his Major League Soccer contract with Orlando City SC Monday.

The extension which will begin after this Major League Soccer season and will be under contract through 2020.

Bendik, 27, was Orlando City SC fans’ and players’ player of the year in 2016.

“We’re excited to be able to sign Joe for three more years,” Orlando general manager Niki Budalic said. “Joe was among our best players last season and will be a big part of our future. He has been an outstanding professional and earned this extension.”

The 6-2, 218-lb. Bendik is coming off a career year in 2016. After being acquired from Toronto FC in December 2015, Bendik played every minute in goal for Orlando and finished second in MLS with 114 saves. Bendik also won MLS save of the week 11 times and took home save of the year honors for his back-to-back stops against Sporting Kansas City on May 15.

https://www.facebook.com/OrlandoCitySC/videos/1422922911099326/

 

Here’s a video of Bendik’s memorable saves. (Video courtesy of Orlando City’s Facebook page)

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.