Ruiz, Twellman named to MLS Best XI

NEW YORK (Ticker) -- Los Angeles Galaxy forward Carlos Ruiz and New England Revolution striker Taylor Twellman highlighted the list of players named to the MLS Best XI team Saturday.

Also, newly retired Tab Ramos, one of the best soccer players ever produced by the United States, received the 2002 Commissioner's Award, and Colorado Rapids general manager Dan Counce was named the 2002 MLS Executive of the Year.

Ruiz netted a league-high 24 goals in his first MLS season. The Guatemalan star also was named the 2002 MLS Most Valuable Player, outpolling Twellman.

Twellman was the league scoring champion in his first MLS campaign, recording 23 goals and six assists.

Ruiz and Twellman represent significant reasons why the Galaxy and the Revolution will clash in MLS Cup 2002 on Sunday.

A quintet of midfielders were named to the Best XI. New England's Steve Ralston, who collected his second MLS assist crown with a career-high 19 was joined by Columbus' Jeff Cunningham, Colorado's Mark Chung, San Jose's Ronnie Ekelund and Dallas' Oscar Pareja.

MLS Defender of the Year Carlos Bocanegra of Chicago, San Jose's Wade Barrett and Los Angeles' Alexi Lalas were the three backliners in the 11.

For the second straight season, MetroStars goalkeeper Tim Howard was honored.

Ramos, the first player to sign with MLS and the lone remaining original MetroStars player in 2002, retired at the end of the 2002 regular season.

"Tab was, and is, more than a great soccer player," MLS commissioner Don Garber said. "We are proud that our athletes relish their responsibility as role models. We are proud that they provide the inspiration, the hopes, the dreams for millions of girls and boys across America.

"Someday soon -- if not already -- some young soccer player in New Jersey is growing up not dreaming of being Pele, or [David] Beckham, or Ronaldo, but dreaming of weaving through a defensive back line wearing No. 10 for the Metrostars -- dreaming of being none other than Tab Ramos."

 

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