Genoni Martinez Named MISL Defender of the Year
May 25, 2006 - Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
St. Louis Steamers News Release
St. Louis Steamers defender Genoni Martinez has garnered the Major Indoor Soccer League's (MISL) 2005-06 Defender of the Year award. Martinez is the sixth member of the Steamers to capture a postseason honor from the league. He was named to the All-MISL First Team on Monday. The Defender of the Year award was announced Wednesday, May 24.
Martinez is the sixth member of the Steamers to win an MISL postseason award. Goalkeeper Brett Phillips was named to the All-MISL First Team on Monday and won the Goalkeeper of the Year laurels on Tuesday. Steamers head coach Omid Namazi captured the MISL Coach of the Year honor on Tuesday. Jamar Beasley, Shaun David and Carlos "Chile" Farias were named to the All-MISL Second Team on Monday.
Martinez is the fourth player in league history to win the Defender of the Year honor in three different seasons, joining Sean Bowers, Matt Knowles, and Tim Tyma.
In his first season with the Steamers, Martinez was a key component in the club's success in winning the 2005-06 MISL Regular Season Championship with a 23-7 record. The native of Mexico City led all MISL defenders in points this season (31). Martinez was the only defender to rank in the top 10 in scoring, placing ninth. He and fellow All-MISL defenders Pat Morris (Philadelphia) and Matt Schmidt (Milwaukee) led all players at their position with 16 goals. In playing 25 of 30 regular season games, Martinez totaled 16 goals, 15 assists and 14 blocks. He also finished third in the MISL in restart goals, with six. He won the Defensive Player of the Month award twice during the season and was named Defensive Player of the Week twice.
The 31-year-old began his professional indoor soccer career with Wichita in the 1996-97 season. Since then, he has played in 258 regular season games in the league, scoring 237 goals, adding 187 assists, and 402 blocks. In addition to being named the MISL Defender of the Year following the 2002-03, 2003-04, and 2005-06 seasons, Martinez has been named All-League six times during his career. Martinez played in his fourth League All-Star Game on February 11.
The MISL's formal voting process to determine the league's postseason awards polls members of the media, as well as MISL coaches and team personnel and asks voters to cast votes for first-place (worth five points), second-place (three points), and third-place (one point) for MISL Defender of the Year. In winning the award, Martinez received better than 50 percent of the first-place votes.
"Genoni is a different player than he used to be," said St. Louis head coach Omid Namazi, who has also coached, played and trained alongside Martinez in both Philadelphia and Cleveland. "Now he's a better overall player. As a defender he's always been able to go forward. But every team needs that defender that can step forward and also contribute defensively. He's the best in the league at going forward, but he picks and chooses his spots. He never gets hurried on defense, never gets rushed. He's so composed. He brings a calmness to our backline."
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Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from May 25, 2006
- Adauto Neto Named 2005-06 Major Indoor Soccer League MVP - MISL 2
- Neto named MISL MVP - Baltimore Blast
- Genoni Martinez Named MISL Defender of the Year - St. Louis Steamers
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