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MLS New England Revolution

Revolution midfielder Clint Dempsey named MLS Gatorade Rookie of the Year

November 12, 2004 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
New England Revolution News Release


Foxborough, Mass. - Major League Soccer announced today that New England Revolution midfielder Clint Dempsey has been named Gatorade Rookie of the Year for the 2004 season. Dempsey, the Revs' first-round selection in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft (8th overall), becomes the first New England player to win the award while a member of the Revolution.

Dempsey, born and raised in Nacogdoches, Texas, signed with MLS as part of the Nike Project-40 program, after three standout seasons playing for the Furman University Paladins. He posted scoring totals of seven goals and one assist (15 points) in 24 games in his rookie season.

A broken jaw kept Dempsey out of the 2004 Sierra Mist All-Star game after he was named to the Eastern Conference squad for the July 31 match in Washington, D.C. Over the course of the league campaign, Dempsey performed for head coach Steve Nicol in several positions, including both attacking and defensive midfield roles and at forward.

Dempsey won the Rookie of the Year award despite missing five games due to the jaw injury and he played on a sprained ankle, injured on August 28, for much of September. He took the league by storm in the first three months of the season, scoring six of his seven goals before being placed on the injured list. Dempsey scored his seventh goal on October 16 in the Revs' 2-1 win over the Chicago Fire that clinched a third consecutive playoff berth for New England.

Dempsey topped Columbus Crew defender Chad Marshall and D.C. United midfielder Freddy Adu, the other two finalists, for the Rookie of the Year honors. The award was announced today at the annual MLS Media Luncheon at The Home Depot Center Stadium Club in Carson, California. The 2004 MLS Best XI and Commissioner's Award will be announced on Saturday, Nov. 13 during the MLS Gala Awards Party at the Universal Studios Globe Theatre.

Revolution forward Pat Noonan will be present at the MLS Gala Awards Party to receive his trophy for sharing the 2004 Budweiser Scoring Championship with the MetroStars Amado Guevara. Noonan scored 11 goals to go with eight assists for 30 points on the season.

Dempsey is the third player on the current Revs roster to win Rookie of the Year honors. Midfielder Steve Ralston (with the Tampa Bay Mutiny in 1996) and defender Jay Heaps (Miami Fusion, 1999) are both previous recipients of the prize.

MLS Cup 2004, the League's ninth championship game, will be played on Sunday, November 14 at The Home Depot Center. MLS Cup 2004, featuring D.C. United and the Kansas City Wizards, will be televised live on ABC Sports at 3:30 p.m. ET.

In celebration of their 10th season of play in Major League Soccer, Revolution season tickets prices for 2005 are rolled back down to the original price levels from the Revolution's inaugural MLS season in 1996. Center Circle season ticket memberships for the 2005 season are just $9.00, $13.50, or $18.00 per ticket - the same exact prices from 1996. Call 1-877-GET-REVS for tickets.

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Major League Soccer Stories from November 12, 2004


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