MLS D.C. United

D.C. United\'s Ben Olsen and Ryan Nelsen Finalists for MLS Year-End Awards

Published on November 11, 2003 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
D.C. United News Release


CHANTILLY, VA (November 11, 2003) - D.C. United midfielder Ben Olsen and defender Ryan Nelsen are among the finalists for Major League Soccer's annual year-end awards. The winners will be announced and honored at the 2003 MLS Gala Awards Ceremony on the eve of MLS Cup 2003 on Saturday, November 22 at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California. The League's championship game, MLS Cup 2003, will be played on Sunday, November 23 at The Home Depot Center (3:30 p.m. ET - live on ABC Sports).

Olsen is a finalist for the ACE Comeback Player of the Year award, along with midfield stalwart Chris Armas (Chicago Fire) and Colorado Rapids forward John Spencer, all three having overcome injury or great adversity to experience measurable success during the 2003 campaign.

Nelsen is a finalist for the ADT Defender of the Year award, along with U.S. National Team defenders Carlos Bocanegra (Chicago Fire) and Eddie Pope (MetroStars). Nelsen was honored this season as United's ADT Defender of the Year.

After missing all of the 2001 season and 20 matches in the 2002 campaign due to an ankle injury, Olsen this season regained the form that helped him earn MLS Cup MVP honors in 1999. Despite going down again with a left MCL sprain on Sept. 28 of this year, Olsen finished second in scoring for United with 15 points on four goals and seven assists. All of his tallies went for game-winners and United is an amazing 14-0-0 all-time in games in which Olsen scores. Olsen was also honored by United this season as the U.S. Soccer Foundation Humanitarian of the Year for his off-field work in the community.

In his third season with United, Nelsen was a force to be reckoned with, floating dauntingly between midfield and defense. Nelsen was a fixture in central defense for a squad, which conceded just 36 goals in 30 matches, the second lowest total in MLS. Midway through the 2003 campaign, the New Zealand international was named team captain by Head Coach Ray Hudson. On 7/2, Nelsen broke the ice in the 29th minute in Dallas for his only goal of the season to give United a 1-0 lead. In August, he appeared in his first MLS All-Star game, helping the All-Stars defeat Chivas of Guadalajara by a 3-1 score at the Home Depot Center in California.

Check out the D.C. United Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Major League Soccer Stories from November 11, 2003


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.

OurSports Central