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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.


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