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Fusion dominate Best 11 Crew GM Smith wins MLS executive award
ATLANTA (CNNSI.com) -- Major League Soccer announced its Best 11 on Saturday at its gala awards ceremony in Columbus, Ohio, the day before the San Jose Earthquakes and Los Angeles Galaxy were to battle for the MLS Cup title. The Best 11 features the top players from each position, compiling a lineup of 11 players from the league's three divisions based on a 3-5-2 alignment. MLS coaches, general managers, players and members of the Professional Soccer Reporters Association (PSRA) voted to determine this lineup. The Best 11 features an unprecedented five players from the Miami Fusion, who were eliminated by the Earthquakes in the MLS semifinals. MLS also announced its executive awards winners for 2001. Jim Smith, general manager of the Columbus Crew, was named the 2001 MLS Executive of the Year. Steve Pastorino, senior director of marketing/broadcasting for the Chicago Fire, earned the 2001 MLS Marketing Executive of the Year award. Chris Brienza, vice president of communications for the MetroStars, was named 2001 MLS Public Relations Executive of the Year. Ed Austin, chief operating officer of the Tampa Bay Mutiny, is the 2001 MLS Operations Executive of the Year. League leaders in virtually every statistical department, including attendance with 21,518 per game, D.C. United captured its third straight MLS Team Ticketing Sales Award. 2001 Best 11FORWARD - ALEX PINEDA CHACON - FUSION F.C. Fusion Head Coach Ray Hudson unearthed a gem in the Honduran, who took the league by storm in his first MLS season. Pineda Chacon was silently spectacular in leading the Fusion to the Eastern Division title. En route to claiming the league's Scoring Championship, Pineda Chacon racked up a league-leading 47 points on 19 goals and 9 assists. His MLS-leading seven game-winning goals and a starting role in the MLS All-Star Game provided more proof of Pineda Chacon's vast array of talent and professionalism. FORWARD - DIEGO SERNA - FUSION F.C. Serna, the Fusion's all-time leading scorer, added to his South Florida legacy in 2001 by becoming only the second player in league history to amass at least 15 goals and 15 assists in a single season. Although he eventually finished second in scoring to teammate Alex Pineda Chacon, Serna occupied a spot among the league's top marksman for the entire season. The enigmatic Colombian dominated his opponents with skill, strength and determination, helping transform South Florida's soccer from team from perennial also-rans to Eastern Division Champions. MIDFIELDER - PETER NOWAK - CHICAGO FIRE By leading Chicago to its second straight Central Division title, Nowak claimed a spot on the Best 11 for the third time in his MLS career. Although he quietly finished tied for 18th among the league's scoring leaders, Nowak's influence was evident by the Fire's 13-3-2 record when he appeared in the lineup during the regular season. A 37-year-old native of Poland, Nowak captained Chicago to a 16-6-5 record in 2001, leading perhaps the most consistent team in MLS. A perennial All-Star, Nowak also claimed MLS Cup Most Valuable Player honors in Chicago's Championship season of 1998. MIDFIELDER - PREKI - FUSION F.C. The Fusion's midfield magician is the only player in league history to record more than 50 goals and 50 assists in his MLS career. Reappearing on the Best 11 for the third time in his career, the ageless attacker is the second all-time leading scorer in league history with 199 points. A member of Kansas City's MLS Championship squad of 2000 and the 1997 league MVP, the 38-year-old is the only player who has physically started in all six MLS All-Star Games. MIDFIELDER - CHRIS ARMAS - CHICAGO FIRE Since assuming the role of Chicago's defensive stopper in 1998, Armas has become an irreplaceable member of the Best 11. His fourth straight appearance to the elite group ties the record set by United's Marco Etcheverry, a Best 11 honoree from 1996-1999. An automatic starter for the U.S. national team, Armas has appeared in three MLS Cups. His consistency and tenacity make the Fire's midfield among the most revered combinations in league history. MIDFIELDER - JOHN SPENCER - COLORADO RAPIDS Spencer marked his first MLS season with a team-leading 35 points on 14 goals and seven assists. The Scotsman helped Colorado celebrate Independence Day with fireworks of his own, netting a hat trick in front of more than 60,000 fans at Mile High Stadium in a 3-1 win against D.C. United. Spencer established a new Rapids single-season scoring mark with his offensive exploits and finished as the league's third-leading scorer after coming over from the Scottish Premier League's Motherwell. DEFENDER - JEFF AGOOS - SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES A three-time MLS Cup Champion with D.C. United, Agoos faced a new challenge in 2001 when he joined a San Jose team that finished dead last in the Western Division a year ago. Agoos put a new face on the Earthquakes and his leadership played a key role in the team's transformation to an MLS Cup contender. Now a three-time member of the Best 11, the U.S. national team regular anchored the league's second best defensive unit in 2001. Agoos' ability to organize his teammates and read the game made him a unanimous choice for Defender of the Year honors this season, while also earning him consideration for the league's Honda Most Valuable Player. DEFENDER - CARLOS LLAMOSA - FUSION F.C. Llamosa brought poise, experience and confidence to the Fusion's back line, taking the team to its first Eastern Division title and the Supporters Shield as the league's top club during the regular season. While playing for D.C. United, Llamosa helped the club to three consecutive MLS Cup appearances from 1997-1999, anchoring the team's Championship teams of '97 and '99. A U.S. National Team regular, Llamosa made his second MLS All-Star appearance this past summer. Although he's considered perhaps the best man-maker in MLS, this marks Llamosa's first selection to the Best 11. DEFENDER - PABLO MASTROENI - FUSION F.C. A breakthrough season for the Fusion's dreadlocked warrior culminates with his first selection to the Best 11. Now a two-time MLS All-Star, Mastroeni's memorable 2001 campaign saw him become a U.S. citizen just days before his first career goal. Mastroeni caught the eye of U.S. Head Coach Bruce Arena, earned his first national team cap in June and will likely compete for a spot on the 2002 World Cup squad. Mastroeni's marking ability and well-timed tackles have solidified his place amongst the league's elite. DEFENDER - GREG VANNEY - LOS ANGELES GALAXY A two-time Pepsi Best 11 selection, Vanney's reliability and consistency helped Los Angeles capture its first Western Division title following a neck-and-neck battle with San Jose. Vanney has been a constant during the Galaxy's two MLS Cup appearances and the team's victorious run to the CONCACAF Champions Cup title. Always an option for the U.S. national team, Vanney is now considered an offensive threat on set pieces with his thunderous left foot. GOALKEEPER - TIM HOWARD - METROSTARS
By trading away veteran Mike Ammann during the offseason, the MetroStars placed their trust in Howard between the pipes for the 2001 campaign. The 22-year-old repaid that trust in full, snaring the first of what could be many appearances in the league's Best 11. A 2000 U.S. Olympian, Howard led MLS in saves during the 2001 season, showing natural instincts, athleticism and skill beyond his years. The league leader in save percentage, save average and save ratio, Howard's ability to withstand intense pressure clearly made him the favorite.
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