Several Fury Candidates in Running for NASL Awards
Published on October 16, 2015 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
Ottawa Fury FC News Release
OTTAWA, ON - It has been a banner year for Ottawa Fury FC. They have set NASL records, club records and, perhaps most important, have earned the respect of teams around the league.
After just a single win in their opening five matches in 2015, the turnaround from Fury FC has been nothing short of incredible. The club shutout their opposition for 648-straight minutes, went 12-games unbeaten and have lost just once in their last 22-matches (12W-9D-1L). Their impressive Fall Season (11W-5D-1L) sees the second-year club on the cusp of capturing the first piece of silverware in their young history - the Fall Season Championship.
To no surprise, the success of the team has resulted in several players, and the coach, earning the attention of the league, media and fans as the conversations for the 2015 NASL Awards begin.
The league will be giving out nine awards this season: Golden Ball (MVP), Golden Boot (Top Scorer), Golden Glove (Top Goalkeeper), Coach of the Year, Goal of the Year, Best XI, Young Player of the Year, Fair Play Award, and Humanitarian of the Year. Of those honors, media and fans will be able to vote on four.
Polls are now open at NASL.com for three of the four awards where media and fans can vote - Golden Ball, Coach of the Year and Young Player of the Year - each featuring candidates from Fury FC. Polls close October 27 at 5:00pm ET.
GOLDEN BALL (MVP)
Fury FC Candidates: Goalkeeper Romuald Peiser and Captain Richie Ryan | VOTE NOW!
The veteran goalkeeper has helped Ottawa establish the league's best defense setting several NASL records in the process. Captain Richie Ryan has again proven how crucial he is in the Fury midfield - Ottawa is 13W-4D-1L with their captain in the line-up outscoring the opposition 33-12.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Fury FC Candidate: Marc Dos Santos | VOTE NOW!
What Marc Dos Santos has transformed Fury FC into in just their second year is nothing short of amazing. Dos Santos did make some changes in the off-season, but was adamant about building his core while adding necessary experience and skill in key positions to round out his project. The architect of Fury FC has seen his club improve from an 8th place finish with 27 points in 2014 to 49-points this season with three matches remaining, their ticket to the postseason punched and the Fall Season Championship within their grasp.
YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Fury FC Candidates: Mauro Eustaquio and Oliver | VOTE NOW!
It has been a season of opportunity for Mauro Eustaquio. The 22-year-old has featured in 16 matches, playing 1279 minutes and scoring his first-ever goal as a professional. His play also earned him a spot on the Canadian Men's Olympic U23 squad. After leading Fury FC in scoring in 2014, Brazilian striker Oliver has been plagued by injuries in 2015. The 23-year-old has featured in 20 matches and has scored two goals including one match winner.
GOLDEN GLOVE
While Romuald Peiser is a candidate for the NASL Golden Ball, he is also the current front-runner for the NASL Golden Glove as the league's top goalkeeper. The award is given to the keeper with the lowest GAA (Spring and Fall Seasons combined). Peiser currently holds the league's top GAA (0.78) leading Cosmos keeper Jimmy Maurer (0.96) and Minnesota United shot-stopper Sammy Ndjock (1.00).
HUMANITARIAN OF THE YEAR
In addition to Drew Beckie's proven commitment on the field, he has shown his commitment and compassion to the Ottawa community as well. In June, Beckie launched a program called WINGS - Walking in Grief's Shadow - a program to help children who have lost a parent. At age eleven, Beckie lost his father to cancer and after being inspired by a similar program that helped him through this difficult chapter in his life, he founded the WINGS program to provide youth that have lost a parent (or parents) a forum to work through their grief with someone who has shared a similar loss. Beckie's humanitarian efforts with Fury FC has earned consideration for this award.
FAIR PLAY AWARD
An award based on the lowest team point total for discipline with red cards counting as three (3) points and yellow cards (1) counting as one point. With 40 yellow cards and just a single red card, Fury FC have the lowest team point total of 43 points. Indy Eleven has 47 points.
BEST XI
Don't be surprised to see Romauld Peiser, Colin Falvey and Rafael Alves in the NASL's Best XI as part of the League's best defence in 2015.Richie Ryan, Sinisa Ubiparipovic, Tom Heinemann and Paulo Junior are also among the league's best in midfield and at forward.
Tickets to this Sunday's match against San Antonio are available at OttawaFuryFC.com where fans can also purchase tickets to the Championship Semifinal, Championship Final as well their 2016 Season Tickets!
North American Soccer League Stories from October 16, 2015
- Loons Look for Three Points on Final Regular Season Road Trip - Minnesota United FC
- FCE Match Preview vs. Jacksonville Armada FC - FC Edmonton
- Match Preview: RailHawks Travel to Fort Lauderdale in Search of Three Vital Points - North Carolina FC
- Match Preview: Ottawa Host San Antonio in Final Home Game of Regular Season - Ottawa Fury FC
- Several Fury Candidates in Running for NASL Awards - Ottawa Fury FC
- Silverbacks to Welcome Rowdies, Adu into the Jungle - Atlanta Silverbacks
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