Orlando City SC goalkeeper Joe Bendik (right) is congratulated by defender Jonathan Spector after a win over the Colorado Rapids. (Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports)

NEW YORK – Orlando City SC goalkeeper and Huntington, N.Y. native Joe Bendik was voted Major League Soccer’s player of the month for April by members of the media, the league announced Wednesday.

The 28-year-old Bendik helped push Orlando to the top of the league standings with four wins in five April matches, ending the month with four consecutive victories.

Entering Wednesday night action, the Lions paced the Supporters’ Shield race with 18 points (6-1-0 overall record) behind a stout defense that has allowed five goals on the season, tied for second league wide. Bendik led all MLS goalkeepers with four April victories, while his three clean sheets this season, including two in April, rank second at his position.

MLS player of the month is voted upon by a panel of select national media members in a process conducted by MLS Communications.

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.