HOUSTON (April 3, 2026) – Houston Dynamo 2 interim head coach Jeremy Hurdle was named the MLS NEXT Pro Coach of the Month for March, while goalkeeper Pedro Cruz earned MLS NEXT Pro Goalkeeper of the Month honors, the league announced today.
Dynamo 2 sit second in the Western Conference after opening the season with four consecutive shutout victories under the leadership of Hurdle. Houston is the only team in the league who has not conceded a goal in 2026 and ranks third in the league in scoring (13 goals). Notably, the team has totaled 23 goal contributions, with 12 different players already finding the back of the net.
“It is an honor to be recognized, and I want to thank the players, the staff and the Cub because it is always a collective effort,” said Hurdle. “This award reflects the hard work we have put in together to start the season on a high note, especially the guys on the field. The group has shown great commitment, and we will continue to push each other to be better every day.”
Highlights from March include a 4-0 victory over conference rivals Tacoma Defiance (March 8), where Houston’s defense held Tacoma to just one shot on target from eight total attempts, a dominant 5-0 win versus Portland Timbers2 (March 15) and a 2-0 triumph against in-state rivals North Texas SC (March 21). The five-goal performance versus Portland earned Dynamo 2 MLS NEXT Pro Team of Matchweek 3 honors, with seven players contributing to the scoring effort. Houston opened the season with a 2-0 victory over Colorado Rapids 2, with goals from midfielders Samir Mohammad and D’Alessandro Herrera.
Cruz, the 2025 Goalie Wars winner and the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro Goalkeeper of the Year finalist, kicked off his 2026 season on a strong note, appearing in three of the four matches during March and helping Dos to three clean sheets with eight saves and a flawless 100 save percentage. The shot stopper recorded three saves in back-to-back matches versus Portland and North Texas and is tied for second in the league in shutouts.
"I am incredibly grateful to be named the league's Goalkeeper of the Month," said Cruz. "I want to thank God, as well as my coaches and teammates for always pushing me to improve every day. I am happy to be making an impact during this strong start to the season, and these clean sheets would not be possible without this group around me. We will keep pushing for more."
Houston next kicks off a 10-game road trip, the longest of the season and in team history, by first traveling to face Austin FC II on Sunday, April 12, at Parmer Field. Fans can stream the match live via MLSNEXTPro.comand OneFootball.
