les finalistes pour les honneurs individuels en D1

[condor]

2005 USL First Division Awards Finalists announced
Defender, Rookie, Coach of the Year and MVP finalists unveiled
USL News Release

Tuesday, September 20, 2005

Tampa, FL – United Soccer Leagues announced Tuesday the finalists for the 2005 Defender of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Coach of the Year and Most Valuable Player honors. Ten players and three coaches are among the finalists for the four honors voted on by the league’s coaches and general managers. The award winners will be announced at the media banquet during the USL First Division Championship weekend.

Defender of the Year Finalists

Taylor Graham – Seattle Sounders

With the loss of 2003 All-League defender and team captain Danny Jackson for the year on the second day of training camp to an ACL tear, Graham stepped up to help lead the Sounders to the third best defensive performance on the year with 25 goals allowed. The former Kansas City Wizard player played every minute for the Sounders and recorded two goals. He scored both in a win over Portland, earning Player of the Week honors.

Gabriel Gervais – Montreal Impact

After winning the Defender of the Year honor the past two seasons, Gervais earned All-League honors for a fourth straight year after leading Montreal’s back line to the league’s lowest goals allowed total (15).

Scot Thompson – Portland Timbers

The second-year Timber back only missed two games this season, both while he was away on trial with Sunderland of the English Premier League after making an impression in a scoreless draw against the Black Cats in an exhibition. He also tallied four goals and two assists in 2005.

Rookie of the Year Finalists

CJ Klaas (M) – Seattle Sounders

Klaas was a third round selection in the MLS SuperDraft but chose to sign with the Sounders so he could simultaneously finish his studies at the University of Washington. The two-time All America selection played in 24 of the Sounders 28 regular season matches and recorded one goal and four assists on the season.

Joe Gjertsen (F) – Vancouver Whitecaps

The Tacoma, WA native played in all but one game for the Whitecaps in 2005, notching three goals and three assists on the season. His nine points tied him for third on the squad behind league scoring and goal-scoring champion Jason Jordan and midfielder Steve Klein.

Ben Hollingsworth (D/F) – Charleston Battery

The rookie defender had a standout season for the Battery as the club continued its rebuilding phase, proving to be a versatile player that also saw action up top for the club at forward. He finished tied for the team lead in scoring with four goals and nine points. He played all but two games in his first season and earned All-League Second Team honors.

Dan Kennedy (G) – Puerto Rico Islanders

Kennedy played every minute in goal for the Islanders, earning a 10-10-8 record and five shutouts on the season. His 114 saves were good for second in the league, just 10 behind Seattle’s Preston Burpo.

Coach of the Year Finalists

Nick DeSantis – Montreal Impact

In just his second season, DeSantis has already earned a USL First Division championship (2004) and a USL First Division regular season title (2005). His squad set numerous club records including lowest number of goals allowed (15) and fewest losses (3). The long-time Impact player turned coach now sets his sights on another USL-1 title.

Bob Lilley – Vancouver Whitecaps

Lilley led his Whitecaps team to a 12-7-9 record on the season and the third seed in the USL First Division playoffs. A two-time USL First Division Coach of the Year, Lilley won the award in 1999 while heading up the Hershey Wildcats and again in 2003 at the helm of the Montreal Impact. He has amassed a .619 winning percentage throughout his nine year head coaching career.

Buzz Lagos – Minnesota Thunder

Lagos, a Minnesota coaching legend, announced earlier this year that the 2005 season would be his last after 16 years as head coach. The only coach the Thunder have ever known, Lagos directed his teams to six championship matches as well as the USL First Division title in 1999. Minnesota made an amazing run in the US Open Cup this year, earning a trip to the semifinals by beating three Major League Soccer teams by a combined score of 13-6.

Most Valuable Player Finalists

Jason Jordan (F) – Vancouver Whitecaps

Jordan finished as the team’s leading scorer for the fourth straight year and the fifth time overall. This season his numbers were also good enough to earn the league’s Scoring and Goal Scoring titles with 17 goals and 37 points. He also had three assists on the year.

Mauro Biello (M/F) – Montreal Impact

The six-time All-League honoree continues to excel in the USL First Division, finishing seventh in points (21) and fifth in goals (9) to lead the team in both categories. He also recorded three assists on the season. It was the fourth time he has led his team in scoring, four with the Impact and once with the Rochester Raging Rhinos.

Kirk Wilson (M) – Rochester Raging Rhinos

Wilson earned All-League honors for the first time since being named to the Second Team in 1998 while playing for El Paso. He finished fifth in the league in goals (9), assists (5) and points (23) while leading the Rhinos to second place in the USL First Division.

http://www.uslsoccer.com/home/109128.html

[Daniel]

Desantis, c'est inevitable.

Biello, ce sera Jordan.

Gervais, on voudra varier.