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While the 2012 Seattle Sounders scored fewer goals than the 2011 version the forwards were still pouring in goals with the assists coming from the same right winger who won the last Offensive Player of the Year. The award vote should be rather tight. The typical debate about "value" and the sheer number of goals and assists piled up could cause one to pick any of the three nominees. All three Johnson and Montero recorded a goal or an assist in each type of competition (CCL, USOC, regular season, Playoffs). Evans and Scott also managed that feat.
Eddie Johnson - 17 goals, 3 assists in 2696 minutes
In his first year with the Seattle Sounders he clearly exceeded all expectations. Johnson's heading ability maximized the effectiveness of Seattle's cross based attack. His powerful heading ability resulted in more headed goals than by any other player in MLS history of that stat.
Fredy Montero - 17 goals, 13 assists in 3570 minutes
Montero won in 2009 and 2010. This year he had tied for goals in all competitions and was second in MLS play. His ability to score from nearly anywhere in the attacking half is respected throughout the league, but it is his quality passing that often gets overlooked.
Mauro Rosales - 3 goals, 16 assists in 2429 minutes
After winning in 2011, Rosales had a better season in 2012. With the least minutes of the candidates his contributions are clearly valuable and an argument could be made that the Sounders are a worse team without Rosales than either of the other possible votes.
As always the Sounder at Heart awards are about All Competitions, not just the MLS regular season.
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