Sounders FC's Gspurning and Johnson Named Finalists for MLS Year-End Awards
November 15, 2012 - Major League Soccer (MLS) - Seattle Sounders FC News Release
RENTON, WASH. - Major League Soccer announced today Seattle Sounders FC goalkeeper Michael Gspurning and forward Eddie Johnson as finalists for its 2012 year-end awards. Winners for each award will be announced prior to MLS Cup on December 1.
Gspurning is a finalist for the Allstate Goalkeeper of the Year award. He finished first in goals against average (0.73), first in goals allowed (15), second in wins percentage (.690), fourth in saves percentage (74.6) and fifth in shutouts (8). He also posted two of the longest shutout streaks this season at 370 minutes (7th) and 335 minutes (10th).
An offseason signing from Greek's Super League, Gspurning is also a finalist for Newcomer of the Year. The former Austrian international became the first goalkeeper from outside the CONCACAF region to lead the league in goals against average, and his GAA ranked third all-time in MLS history.
Johnson is a finalist for Comeback Player of the Year. He set a club record with 14 goals and led MLS with nine goals from headers. He previously won the award in 2007 with Kansas City.
The finalists, listed in alphabetical order below for each award, earned the most votes in polling of three voting groups:
Current MLS players
MLS Clubs (Coaches, Technical Directors, Presidents, and PR/Community Relations)
Media members who covered MLS regularly in 2012
Voting was based on performance in the 2012 MLS Regular Season.
The Comeback Player of the Year award will be announced on November 27 and the Allstate Goalkeeper of the Year and Newcomer of the Year awards will be announced on November 27 . Voting for the AT&T Goal of the Year and the MLS Save of the Year is conducted on the league's official website MLSsoccer.com.
The 2012 awards announcements conclude November 29 with the unveiling of the 2012 Volkswagen MLS MVP and Commissioner's Award.
2012 Major League Soccer Awards Finalists
(Listed in alphabetical order by last name within each award category)
Rookie of the Year Finalists
Austin Berry (Chicago Fire)
Nick DeLeon (D.C. United)
Darren Mattocks (Vancouver Whitecaps FC)
Xbox Individual Fair Play Finalists*
Ante Jazic (Chivas USA)
Logan Pause (Chicago Fire)
Heath Pearce (New York Red Bulls)
*Selected by MLS based on objective criteria such as fouls committed, cards received, games & minutes played, as well as subjective evaluation of sportsmanlike behavior.
Xbox Team Fair Play Finalists*
Chicago Fire
Houston Dynamo
New England Revolution
*Selected by MLS based on objective criteria such as fewest fouls committed, cards received, and on subjective evaluation of sportsmanlike behavior.
Defender of the Year Finalists
Victor Bernardez (San Jose Earthquakes)
Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City)
Aurelien Collin (Sporting Kansas City)
MLS W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian of the Year Finalists
Kei Kamara (Sporting Kansas City)
Michael Lahoud (Philadelphia Union)
Chris Seitz (FC Dallas)
Referee of the Year Finalists
Silviu Petrescu
Baldomero Toledo
Armando Villarreal
Assistant Referee of the Year Finalists
Ian Anderson
Gregory Barkey
Corey Parker
Coach of the Year Finalists
Ben Olsen (D.C. United)
Peter Vermes (Sporting Kansas City)
Frank Yallop (San Jose Earthquakes)
Comeback Player of the Year Finalists
Alan Gordon (San Jose Earthquakes)
Eddie Johnson (Seattle Sounders FC)
Chris Pontius (D.C. United)
Allstate Goalkeeper of the Year Finalists
Michael Gspurning (Seattle Sounders FC)
Dan Kennedy (Chivas USA)
Jimmy Nielsen (Sporting Kansas City)
Newcomer of the Year Finalists
Victor Bernardez (San Jose Earthquakes)
Michael Gspurning (Seattle Sounders FC)
Federico Higuain (Columbus Crew)
Volkswagen Most Valuable Player Finalists
Thierry Henry (New York Red Bulls)
Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)
Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
Awards Announcements Schedule:
Schedule subject to change
November 19: MLS Rookie of the Year, Xbox Fair Play Individual & Team of the Year
November 20: MLS Defender of the Year, MLS W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian of the Year, and Referee/Assistant Referee of the Year
November 26: 2012 MLS Best XI
November 27: MLSCoach of the Year and Comeback Player of the Year
November 28: Allstate Goalkeeper of the Year and Newcomer of the Year
November 29: AT&T Goal of the Year, MLS Save of the Year and Volkswagen MLS MVP
• Discuss this story on the Major League Soccer message board...
Major League Soccer Stories from November 15, 2012
- Galaxy Aware of Sounders' Ability to Score in Bunches - LA Galaxy
- Three Months After Joining Club, Swedish Midfielder Feeling Comfortable in LA - LA Galaxy
- "Backstage: Galaxy" to Premier Tonight at 5 p.m. on Time Warner Cable SportsNet - LA Galaxy
- Timbers Weekly Update - Portland Timbers
- LA Galaxy Foundation to help host Thanksgiving dinner for 250 local children on Monday - LA Galaxy
- Sounders FC Encourages Fans to Plan Ahead for Sunday's Conference Final - Seattle Sounders FC
- Experienced Dorman Returns to Add Veteran Presence - New England Revolution
- Whitecaps FC Announce Technical Staff Changes - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- Impact Shuts out ACF Fiorentina 1-0 in Italy - Club de Foot Montreal
- Earthquakes, Goalkeeper Jon Busch Donate $8,100 to Navy SEAL Foundation - San Jose Earthquakes
- FC Dallas Assistant Coach John Ellinger Retires from Major League Soccer - FC Dallas
- Federico Higuaín Named Finalist for MLS Newcomer of the Year Award - Columbus Crew SC
- Revs Named Finalist for MLS Xbox Fair Play - New England Revolution
- Dan Kennedy and Ante Jazic Finalists for MLS Awards - Club Deportivo Chivas USA
- LA Galaxy Academy Teams Travel to Arizona - LA Galaxy
- Whitecaps FC Announce Preliminary Details for 2013 Preseason - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- Whitecaps FC Striker Darren Mattocks Named Finalist for 2012 Rookie of the Year Award - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- D.C. United Academy product/Reston native Suliaman Dainkeh called into U-18 U.S. Men's National Team - D.C. United
- Sporting Kansas City Has Six Finalists for Major League Soccer Awards - Sporting Kansas City
- Sounders FC's Gspurning and Johnson Named Finalists for MLS Year-End Awards - Seattle Sounders FC
- Red Bulls Forward Thierry Henry Named Finalist for Major League Soccer MVP - New York Red Bulls
- MLS Announces 2012 Awards Finalists - MLS
- D.C. United's Nick DeLeon, Ben Olsen and Chris Pontius Named as Finalists for Year-End MLS Awards - D.C. United
- Fire Defender Austin Berry Named Finalist for 2012 MLS Rookie of the Year Award - Chicago Fire FC
- Toronto FC Declines Option on Six Players - Toronto FC
- Revs Re-Sign Andy Dorman - New England Revolution
- Christian Sady called into U.S. U18 Men's National Team camp - New England Revolution
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 Seattle Sounders FC Stories
- Sounders FC Plays to 1-1 Home Draw against Colorado Rapids
- Sounders FC Hosts Colorado Rapids in Saturday Matinee
- Leagues Cup Unveils 2024 Group Stage Schedule and Bracket
- Sounders FC Travels to Philadelphia Union for Saturday Evening Matchup
- Sounders FC Plays to Scoreless Home Draw with Austin FC