Year-End Awards Finalists Announced
October 8, 2002 - Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release
MLS SET TO HONOR ITS BEST Nominees For Major League Soccer's Year-End Awards Unveiled NEW YORK (Tuesday, October 8, 2002) - Major League Soccer unveiled today the list of finalists for nine of the league's annual year-end awards. The winners will be announced daily from October 14 - October 19 during the build-up to the League's seventh championship match, MLS Cup 2002 on Sunday, October 20 at Gillette Stadium (1:30 p.m. ET - ABC).
In addition to the honors listed below, Major League Soccer will also name its Pepsi Best 11 at the League's annual Gala Awards Ceremony on Saturday, October 19 in Providence, Rhode Island. In addition to the formal presentation of all the League's year-end awards for on-field performance, MLS will also formally present its 2002 Executive Award winners at this event.
Beginning tomorrow, fans and media members will have the opportunity to select the 2002 MLS Goal of the Year, an annual award given to the player whose goal is judged to be the best overall scoring play during the regular season. Based on nominations from each of the League's players and coaches, a collection of 10 different goals from the 2002 season will be available for download at www.MLSnet.com
2002 MLS YEAR-END awards FINALISTS (Listed Alphabetically):
2002 Honda Most Valuable Player Player Pos. Team Note:
Mark Chung M Colorado Rapids Only player in MLS to reach double digits in goals (11) and assists (10) in 2002 Carlos Ruiz F Los Angeles Galaxy Netted a League-leading 24 goals, including nine game-winners for the Supporter's Shield Winners Taylor Twellman F N.E. Revolution Claimed 2002 Budweiser Scoring Crown with a League-high 52 points on 23 goals and six assists
MLS Coach of the Year Coach Team Note:
Mike Jeffries Dallas Burn Used an overhauled defense and young talent to keep Dallas near the top of the West for most of the season Steve Nicol N.E. Revolution Guided his once-troubled squad out of the cellar to its first Eastern Conference Championship Sigi Schmid Los Angeles Galaxy Under his watch, the Galaxy claimed the Supporters Shield and Western Conference title with the League's best record (16-9-3)
MLS Defender of the Year Player Pos. Team Note:
Wade Barrett D S.J. Earthquakes Despite moving to a more central role, had a breakthrough season for the Quakes, earning his first All-Star selection Carlos Bocanegra D Chicago Fire Injuries crippled the Fire's offense, but Bocanegra bolstered the club on the offensive (2g, 3a) and defensive fronts Alexi Lalas D L.A. Galaxy After playing just 11 games in 2001, his leadership and offensive talents (career-high 12 pts) helped power the League's best team
Aquafina Goalkeeper of the Year Player Team Note:
Joe Cannon S.J. Earthquakes Led MLS in wins (13) and shutouts despite playing behind a young, injury-plagued defense Tim Howard MetroStars A League-high 140 saves masked his club's defensive shortcomings for much of the season, averaged more than five saves per game Nick Rimando D.C. United His quick reactions and 131 saves kept United in playoff contention until the club's final match; was tied for second with seven clean sheets
MLS Rookie of the Year Player Pos. Team Note:
Brad Davis M MetroStars Led all rookies with 11 points (4g, 3a) after proving himself as an immediate contributor on the left side, netted game-winning goals in his first two appearances Kelly Gray M Chicago Fire Playing nearly every position for the Fire, the versatile Gray notched nine points on two goals and five assists Kyle Martino M Columbus Crew Assumed the role as the Crew's playmaking midfielder,, displacing veteran John Perez for much of the season, tallied nine points on two goals and five assists
ACE Comeback Player of the Year Player Pos. Team Note:
Chris Klein M K.C. Wizards Recovered from a devastating offseason ACL tear in October of 2001 to reestablish himself as a force on the right flank, was Kansas City's second leading scorer (19 points) in 2002
Alexi Lalas M L.A. Galaxy Led the League's top defense after appearing in just 11 games in 2001, a year that saw him return from a one-year hiatus from the sport, netted a career-high 12 points (4g, 4a) Ben Olsen M D.C. United Made his first MLS appearance in nearly two seasons late in the 2002 campaign, overcoming a host of ankle surgeries that may have cost him a spot on the U.S. World Cup Team; Helped fuel D.C.'s late run
MLS Individual Fair Play Award Player Pos. Team Note:
Mark Chung M Colorado Rapids Finished in the League's top ten in scoring and fouls suffered without receiving a single caution or ejection in 27 appearances Chris Klein M K.C. Wizards Committed just 11 fouls and acquired no cautions or ejections despite his physical presence on the right wing for Kansas City Steve Ralston M N.E. Revolution A two-time winner of the award, Ralston led the Revs in assists and minutes while picking up just six yellow cards in more than 2,400 minutes played
U.S. Soccer Foundation Humanitarian of the Year Player Pos. Team Note:
Jimmy Conrad D S.J. Earthquakes Spent countless hours working with youth soccer organizations in addition to his regular visits to hospital patients and work with various fundraisers for cancer research Steve Jolley D MetroStars In the last year has raised $10,000 for victims from the World Trade Center collapse, his foundation also works close with America Scores to promote creative writing and soccer in urban areas Eddie Pope D D.C. United Continued his work through the Eddie Pope Foundation, which exposes inner-city children to the sport of soccer
OSI Referee of the Year Referee Hometown Note:
Brian Hall Gilroy, CA First American-born referee to run middle for a World Cup match (2002) Kevin Stott Rancho Cucamonga, CA Referee for MLS Cup 2001, FIFA-accredited referee Kevin Terry Carrollton, TX Referee for MLS Cup 2002, FIFA-accredited referee
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