Goals are undeniably soccer's most important statistic.
Purists will argue that goals are the only soccer statistic of consequence, however, MLS uses a bevy of stats which should satisfy the sports nut and augment several aspects of the game to the satisfaction of the soccer purist. A shot which hits the crossbar or either post is not considered a shot on goal. To be recorded as just a shot, however, the ball can also fly high over the goal or just past the post, which as any fan and frustrated forward knows, are the most common results. On the Official MLS Statistics Sheet, each shot must have a result. Deflections are not tabulated in MLS, just as wide shots or high shots also are not tracked.