NASL Names 2014 Best XI

Published on November 13, 2014 under North American Soccer League (NASL) News Release


NEW YORK (November 13, 2014) - The North American Soccer League (NASL) has unveiled its 2014 Best XI, as voted on by each of the league's 10 head coaches. Four of the 11 players named will participate The Championship Final, which will feature the San Antonio Scorpions and Fort Lauderdale Strikers on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. CT (8:30 p.m. ET) at Toyota Field.

2014 NASL BEST XI (4-4-2)

Goalkeeper

Jimmy Maurer, New York Cosmos: The Lawrenceville, Ga. native appeared in 24 games, posting the league's second-best goals against average (0.91) and recording a league-high 11 clean sheets. The former University of South Carolina star made 67 saves, posted a 10-7-6 record, and earned NASL Team of the Week honors twice.

Defenders

Tiago Calvano, Minnesota United FC: The 33-year-old Brazilian played 24 total games this year, and helped the Loons keep seven clean sheets. Only two teams conceded fewer goals than United, and Calvano was a big reason why. The veteran center back earned one NASL Team of the Week selection and chipped in a goal as well.

Justin Davis, Minnesota United FC: The Litchfield Park, Ariz. native saw action in 25 matches this year, notching four assists and one goal from the left back position. The 26-year-old defender was named to the NASL Team of the Week six times, and helped United keep seven clean sheets throughout the year.

Darnell King, Fort Lauderdale Strikers: Originally a forward, the Tampa, Fla. native spent the better part of 2014 as a right back, appearing in 25 total games. In addition to helping the Strikers post seven clean sheets, the speedy defender contributed two goals and four assists. He was selected to the NASL Team of the Week twice.

Carlos Mendes, New York Cosmos: Serving as the Cosmos captain this year, the Mineola, N.Y. native saw action in 25 games. The 33-year-old defender helped New York post a league-low three goals in the NASL Spring Season, and chipped in a pair of goals and an assist. Mendes was named to the NASL Team of the Week five times and picked up NASL Player of the Week honors once.

Midfielders

Rafael Castillo, San Antonio Scorpions: Hailing from Pereira, Colombia, Castillo made 17 appearances for the Scorpions in 2014, scoring eight times and dishing out two assists. The 34-year-old veteran picked up NASL Player of the Week and Player of the Month honors once and NASL Team of the Week four times.

Miguel Ibarra, Minnesota United FC: The recently-capped U.S. international is the only player from last year's Best XI on the 2014 version. The Lancaster, California native played 26 games, scoring seven goals and adding five assists. He was honored by the league many times this year: NASL Team of the Week (seven times), Player of the Week (twice), and Player of the Month (once).

Lance Laing, FC Edmonton: The Jamaican international, who appeared in all 27 regular season games for FC Edmonton, makes his second NASL Best XI. Switching from defense to midfield midway through the year, the speedy Laing scored seven goals and added six assists. The 27-year-old midfielder was twice named NASL Player of the Week and made an appearance on the NASL Team of the Week seven times.

Walter Restrepo, San Antonio Scorpions: The Colombian played 25 matches this year, scoring three goals and tallying four assists. Earning NASL Best XI honors for the second time, the 26-year-old midfielder took home NASL Team of the Week honors four times in 2014 and was also named NALS Player of the Week once.

Forwards

Fafà Picault, Fort Lauderdale Strikers: The former U.S. youth international scored the second most goals in the league this year, finding the net 12 times in 22 games. The 23-year-old forward, who recently received his first call-up to the Haiti national team, captured NASL Team of the Week honors six times and NASL Player of the Week honors once.

Christian Ramirez, Minnesota United FC: The Santa Ana, Calif. native played in all 27 regular season games this year, scoring a league-best 20 times. United posted an undefeated record in the 17 games when Ramirez scored. The 6-foot-2 forward was named NASL Player of the Week and NASL Player of the Month three times, and held a spot in the NASL Team of the Week on 13 occasions.

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North American Soccer League Stories from November 13, 2014


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