Leo Gibson Named MASL Most Valuable Player
March 19, 2015 - Major Arena Soccer League (MASL)
Kansas City Comets News Release
BALTIMORE, Md. (March 18, 2015) - The Major Arena Soccer League announced today the winners of its five major individual awards for the 2014/15 season prior to the Ron Newman Cup Championship series at the Royal Farms Arena.
Voting was conducted through the end of the regular season by the league's front office as well as each team's coaching staff.
Forward Leo Gibson was the overwhelming selection for Most Valuable Player. The Monrovia, Liberia native and U.S. National Indoor team player set new league records for points (93), goals (48), assists (45), points in a game (12) and power play goals (15) to lead the Comets to a perfect 20-0 regular season.
Off the field, head coach Vlatko Andonovski won the league's Coach of the Year award with little opposition. His team not only finished the regular season undefeated but also won the Central Division Championship.
Throughout the season, the Comets won their games by an average margin of over seven goals per game. In addition, Missouri has not lost a regular season match in over one year with 25 consecutive victories.
Longtime Comets goalkeeper, who set a record for most wins in history with 17, fell short against Baltimore's William Vanzela who took home the Goalkeeper of the Year award for the second year in a row. The Brazilian goalie set a league record with four shutouts and recorded a 2.83 GAA.
Comets defenders John Sosa and Brian Harris lost a close race for the Defender of the Year prize to Baltimore Blast's Pat Healey, who led the MASL with 53 blocks while scoring seven goals and a team-high 22 assists. All three finalists were called up by U.S.A. head coach Phil Salvagio for the WMF World Cup.
Last but not least, forward Gordy Gurson won the league's first Rookie of the Year award. Gurson came to the St. Louis Ambush in a midseason trade and finished his first professional season with 46 goals, which ranked second in the league. He added 18 assists to also finish second in points with 64.
The inaugural season of the Major Arena Soccer League will come to an end this weekend when the Baltimore Blast and the Monterrey Flash battle for the Ron Newman Cup in a two out of three home-and-home series.
Game one will take place this Friday in Baltimore while game two and three (if necessary) will be played at the Arena Monterrey on Sunday.
Major Arena Soccer League Stories from March 19, 2015
- Gordy Gurson Named MASL Rookie of the Year - St. Louis Ambush
- Comets Braithwaite Suspended Indefinitely - MASL
- Vanzela and Healey Honored by MASL - Baltimore Blast
- Leo Gibson Named MASL Most Valuable Player - Kansas City Comets
- MASL Announces Major Award Winners for 2014/15 Season - MASL
- 2015 WMF Arena Soccer World Cup Kicks off at Allen Event Center Saturday - Dallas Sidekicks
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