ATLANTA (CNNSI.com) -- Major League Soccer on Tuesday
unveiled the list of finalists for nine of the league’s annual
year-end awards. The winners will be announced daily Oct. 14-19 during the buildup to the League’s seventh championship
match, MLS Cup 2002 on Oct. 20 at Gillette Stadium (1:30 p.m.
ET on ABC).
In addition to the honors listed below, Major League Soccer will also
name its Best 11 at the league’s annual Gala Awards Ceremony
on Oct. 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 Wednesday, fans and media members will select the 2002 MLS Goal of the Year. Based on nominations from the league’s
players and coaches, a collection of 10 different goals from the 2002
season will be available for download the league's Web site. The winner will be announced from a list of three finalists
on Oct. 17.
2002 MLS YEAR-END AWARDS FINALISTS
2002 Most Valuable Player
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
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
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
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
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
Comeback Player of the Year
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
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
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
Referee of the Year
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
2002 MLS YEAR-END AWARDS ANNOUNCEMENT SCHEDULE
Sun. Sep. 22
Scoring Champion
Taylor Twellman, F - New England Revolution
Sun. Sep. 22
MLS Fair Play Team Award
Kansas City Wizards
Sun. Sep. 22
MLS Supporters Shield (best record)
Los Angeles Galaxy
Mon. Oct. 14
MLS Individual Fair Play, U.S. Soccer Foundation
Humanitarian of the Year
Tue. Oct. 15
Goalkeeper of the Year, MLS Defender of
the Year, Comeback Player of the Year,
Athletic Trainer of the Year
Wed. Oct. 16
MLS Coach of the Year, MLS Rookie of the Year, OSI
Referee of the Year
Fri. Oct. 18
Most Valuable Player
(At MLS Cup Press Conference presented by Honda)
Sat. Oct. 19
Best 11, MLS Executive Awards, Nickelodeon GAS Play of
the Year
