MLS New England Revolution

Revs' Reis, Ralston Finalists for MLS Awards

Published on October 18, 2006 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
New England Revolution News Release


NEW YORK - Two members of the New England Revolution have been named finalists for Major League Soccer's year-end awards, the league announced Wednesday. Matt Reis is one of three finalists for the 2006 Panasonic Goalkeeper of the Year award, and veteran midfielder Steve Ralston is one of three finalists for the Kraft Global Fair Play award. The winners of both awards will be announced on Thursday, Oct. 19.

In his ninth professional season, Reis has established himself as arguably MLS' top keeper. In 2006, Reis led the league in goals against average (among all full-time keepers) with a career-best and New England club-record 1.09 GAA mark. He also posted a league-best 10 shutouts, a total that matches both his career-best and team record, which he set in 2005. Reis also led MLS in saves with a career-high and team-record 141, while anchoring the team to the league's best defense.

Reis was one of just two players in MLS who played every minute of every game this season (2,880 minutes). He holds eight Revolution team goalkeeping records, and is listed among the top 10 in seven different MLS career records categories.

Reis joins D.C. United's Troy Perkins and the Colorado Rapids Joe Cannon as finalists for the Panasonic Goalkeeper of the Year award.

One of MLS' most heralded and experienced veterans, Ralston continues to impress in his 11th year on the field. In 30 games this season, Ralston committed only 21 fouls played 14 games without committing a foul. He also was the only Revolution starter to play the entire season caution-free. Ralston scored six goals and added five assists on the campaign.

A true sportsman on the field and an ambassador for the game off of it, Ralston continues to be a model professional. He holds the MLS records for minutes played (27,548) and career starts (309), and his top-level play earned him another stint with the U.S. National Team from 2004-06, after a four-year absence. During that time, Ralston played a key role in World Cup qualifying, scoring the goal against Mexico that qualified the U.S. for the World Cup, and was named an alternate for the 2006 U.S. World Cup squad at the age of 32.

Ralston joins Real Salt Lake's Chris Klein and the Chicago Fire's Justin Mapp as finalists for the Kraft Global Fair Play award.

Reis, Ralston and the Revolution (12-8-12, 48 pts.) finished second in the MLS Eastern Conference this season and begin play in the 2006 MLS Cup Playoffs this weekend. The Revs will travel to face the third-seeded Chicago Fire (13-11-8, 47 pts.) in the first game of a two-game, total-goals series on Sunday, Oct. 22. The game will be aired live nationally on ABC and will kickoff at 1 p.m. ET. WEEI 850 AM (English) and WJDA 1300 AM (Spanish) will carry the game live on the radio, and a live audio stream of the game will be available at revolutionsoccer.net.

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Major League Soccer Stories from October 18, 2006


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