Dynamo's Cameron, Kinnear among finalists for MLS awards
October 31, 2008 - Major League Soccer (MLS) - Houston Dynamo FC News Release
HOUSTON, TX (Friday, October 31, 2008) - Two Dynamo representatives are among the finalists for Major League Soccer's 2008 year-end awards, the league announced yesterday.
Midfielder Geoff Cameron, a third-round draft pick out of the University of Rhode Island, was one of three finalists for the Rookie of the Year Award. Cameron has started at three different positions - right midfield, defensive midfield, and center back - and has also played forward. The 23-year-old has contributed one goal - which was named MLS Goal of the Week - and five assists in 34 games in all competitions this year.
"I think Geoff has been the steal of the draft so far," veteran goalkeeper Pat Onstad said. "He has been fantastic for us this year."
Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear is one of the finalists for Coach of the Year, along with Sigi Schmid from the Columbus Crew and Frank Yallop from the San Jose Earthquakes. Despite an unprecedented schedule that included four outside competitions, Kinnear has kept his team successful all season. Houston's 13 MLS wins ran his career regular-season winning percentage to .601, best in MLS history.
Houston finished in first place in the Western Conference during the regular season, reached the SuperLiga championship game and the CONCACAF Champions' Cup semifinals and is the only United States team still remaining in the CONCACAF Champions League. The Dynamo have an overall record of 18-8-19 while playing 45 games, 13 more than Columbus and 14 more than San Jose. Kinnear has had 19 different players make at least 10 starts this year.
The finalists, listed in alphabetical order below for each award, earned the most votes in polling of MLS players, general managers, coaches, referees and members of the media. The U.S. Soccer Foundation & MLS W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian of the Year will be determined by representatives from the U.S. Soccer Foundation and MLS W.O.R.K.S., and will be announced on Friday, Nov. 7.
2008 Major League Soccer Awards Finalists
Panasonic Goalkeeper of the Year Finalists
Jon Busch - Chicago Fire
William Hesmer - Columbus Crew
Matt Reis - New England Revolution
Fair Play Finalists - Individual
Juan Pablo Angel - New York Red Bulls
Michael Parkhurst - New England Revolution
Chris Rolfe - Chicago Fire
MLS Comeback Player of the Year Finalists
Jon Busch - Chicago Fire
Kenny Cooper - FC Dallas
Santino Quaranta - D.C. United
Visa Defender of the Year Finalists
Jimmy Conrad - Kansas City Wizards
Chad Marshall - Columbus Crew
Bakary Soumare - Chicago Fire
adidas Referee of the Year Finalists
Michael Kennedy
Jair Marrufo
Terry Vaughn
Gatorade Rookie of the Year Finalists
Geoff Cameron - Houston Dynamo
Kheli Dube - New England Revolution
Sean Franklin - Los Angeles Galaxy
MLS Coach of the Year Finalists
Dominic Kinnear - Houston Dynamo
Sigi Schmid - Columbus Crew
Frank Yallop - San Jose Earthquakes
Volkswagen MLS Most Valuable Player Finalists
Cuauhtémoc Blanco - Chicago Fire
Landon Donovan - Los Angeles Galaxy
Guillermo Barros Schelotto - Columbus Crew
Newcomer of the Year
Darren Huckerby - San Jose Earthquakes
Claudio Lopez - Kansas City Wizards
Andre Rocha - FC Dallas
Schedule of Awards Announcements:
Tuesday, November 4
Panasonic Goalkeeper of the Year
Fair Play Award Individual & Team
Thursday, November 6
Visa Defender of the Year
adidas Referee of the Year
Friday, November 7
US Soccer Foundation & MLS W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian of the Year
Tuesday, November 11
MLS Newcomer of the Year
MLS Coach of the Year
Thursday, November 13
Gatorade Rookie of the Year
Wednesday, November 19
Sierra Mist Goal of the Year
Thursday, November 20
Volkswagen MLS Most Valuable Player
Saturday, November 22
MLS Best XI
MLS Comeback Player of the Year
The regular season champion of the Western Conference of Major League Soccer, the Houston Dynamo (13-5-12, 51 points) will begin pursuit of their third consecutive MLS Cup title on Saturday with their first playoff game on the road against the New York Red Bulls. The Dynamo will host the decisive second leg of the series at Robertson Stadium on November 9. For more information, please log on to www.HoustonDynamo.com or call (713) 276-7500.
• Discuss this story on the Major League Soccer message board...
Major League Soccer Stories from October 31, 2008
- Wizards Begin Playoffs Tomorrow Against Columbus Crew - Sporting Kansas City
- Dynamo's Cameron, Kinnear among finalists for MLS awards - Houston Dynamo FC
- USA opens playoffs tomorrow at Real Salt Lake, returns home November 8 - Club Deportivo Chivas USA
- Dynamo open MLS Cup playoffs on Saturday - Houston Dynamo FC
- Red Bulls' Seth Stammler Undergoes Successful Right Knee Sugery - New York Red Bulls
- D.C. United donates $10,000 to Kicks Against Breast Cancer - D.C. United
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Houston Dynamo FC Stories
- Aliyu Ibrahim Named to MLSSoccer.com's Team of the Matchday Roster
- Houston Dynamo FC Earn 1-0 Victory Over Undefeated Portland Timbers
- Houston Dynamo FC Host Portland and Dynamo 2 Open Season on Sunday
- Houston Dynamo FC Acquire Midfielder Latif Blessing from Toronto FC
- Houston Dynamo FC to Begin Leagues Cup Play on July 27 at Shell Energy Stadium