Brandon Miller is the starting goalkeeper for the Charlotte Independence, as well as the 2015 USL Goalkeeper of the Year. After a stellar 2015, Miller struggled to regain his form throughout the 2016 season. Read about the frustration of the difficult season, how Miller refocused himself, and a highlight from last season that Miller will “never forget”.
What was one of the worst moments in your playing career as a goalkeeper?
I won't say I had one specific moment that was the low point but the 2016 season was definitely one of the lowest points of my soccer career. I was coming off the best year of my career, having won a championship and almost every individual award I could. I went to Orange County with big expectations and instead of building off of a successful 2015 season, I struggled to find any type of form. I made mistake after mistake in almost every game I played. I can't pick just one poor performance from that season. My confidence was extremely low and I dreaded playing at that point in my career.
How did you overcome the setback?
After the 2016 season, I spent about two months away from soccer trying to sort my life out. When I finally signed with another team, I made a promise to myself to focus solely on soccer and put in the extra work I needed to get back to the level I knew I could be at.
Confidence comes with experience. Consistent repetition is a good way to build confidence. From the first day of preseason, I was doing extra work every single day after practice. Regardless of if we had two or three sessions that day, I made sure I was analyzing my game and working on the areas that needed improvement. I also had to be honest with myself and figure out why my confidence was so low in the first place. I put more emphasis on my mental health and gaining the mental strength necessary to perform at a high level on a consistent basis.
What was one of the most successful moments you experienced as a goalkeeper?
Beating NCFC 1-0 in our last game of the season in 2020 to secure the top spot in our group and our first playoff appearance in years. I had a pretty solid performance, making a couple key saves in both halves to keep the score 0-0. Running the length of the field in the 90th minute to celebrate our goal and playoff birth is something I will never forget.
Why was this moment was so important to you?
This moment was so special for me for many reasons. I was raised in Charlotte and I understand the rivalry with NCFC. We had struggled to beat them in previous seasons so to clinch our playoff berth on their home field was something special. Putting in a good performance and leading my team to the top spot in our group was another reason the moment was so important. As a leader, you always want to put in the type of performances you can be proud of and that was one of them.