MISL Baltimore Blast

Two Blast Players Honored by League, Media

Published on May 2, 2002 under Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL)
Baltimore Blast News Release


Baltimore, MD - The Major Indoor Soccer League announced today that Sean Bowers and Billy Nelson earned Defender of the Year and Rookie of the Year honors, respectively. Bowers, an eight-year veteran of the MISL, won the award for the third time in his career. Nelson, a product of UMBC and Bel Air High School, earned the top rookie honor after recording 20 points and 20 blocks in 42 games in his MISL debut.

"The recognition of Sean and Billy by the league and media is well deserved," said Blast General Manager and Head Coach Kevin Healey. "Sean and Billy represent the combination of experience, youth and talent that the Blast will need to step up to the level of a championship team."

Bowers, 32, led the league with 94 blocks this season and scored 93 points from his defensive position to rank 12th in the MISL in scoring. The 1992-93 NPSL Rookie of the Year was the Blast's fourth-round pick in last summer's MISL Dispersal Draft and came to Baltimore after spending seven seasons with the now-defunct Detroit Rockers. On November 17th, he became just the second player in league history to record 600 points and 600 blocks in his career. He also set a Baltimore franchise record for most blocks in a single season and ranks seventh in MISL history with 667 total blocks.

Nelson, a 1997 graduate of Bel Air High School and a Second Team All NEC Selection at UMBC, played in 42 of 44 games this season. Nelson is the second Baltimore player to be named Rookie of the Year; Tarik Walker earned the honor after the 1993-94 season.

The MISL postseason awards were voted on by MISL member teams' management and selected members of the media from each city. Voters were asked to list three defenders and three rookies, with five points awarded for each first-place vote, three points assessed for second-place votes and one point for each third-place vote.

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Major Indoor Soccer League Stories from May 2, 2002


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