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Every year we like to hand out our own end-of-season awards and ask you to help us. This year we did it again and were frankly blown away by the response. Nearly 1,500 of you cast ballots, including more than 650 who wrote in to tell us what you’ll remember most about the season.
Over the course of the next week or so, we’ll be releasing the results of those votes.
Tuesday: Young Player of the Year. Nominees: Daniel Leyva (winner), Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez, Handwalla Bwana, Nouhou, Shandon Hopeau, Trey Muse, Bheem Goyal.
Wednesday: Newcomer of the Year. Nominees: Leyva, Ocampo-Chavez, Xavier Arreaga (winner), Joevin Jones, Shandon Hopeau.
Thursday: Defender of the Year. Nominees: Stefan Frei, Gustav Svensson (winner), Chad Marshall, Arreaga, Roman Torres, Brad Smith, Kelvin Leerdam, Nouhou, Kim Kee-hee.
Friday: MVP. Nominees: Nicolas Lodeiro, Jordan Morris, Frei, Cristian Roldan, Raul Ruidiaz, Svensson.
Saturday: Best Moment (non MLS Cup). Nominees: Morris brace in opener; Torres waiting for Steve Clark after Timbers loss; Silent protest of Iron Front flag ban; Better than Bob; Academy winning GA Cup; Ruidiaz’s golazo vs. Atlanta United; Leyva’s disallowed goal vs. Whitecaps; Goyal’s save vs. Dortmund.
Sunday: Best MLS Cup moment. Nominees: Boom-boom-clap; March to Match; full-stadium tifo; Victor Rodriguez earthquake.
Our friends at Ride of the Valkyries also handed out end-of-season awards.
Newcomer of the Year: Bethany Balcer
Defensive Player of the Year: Lauren Barnes
MVP: Casey Murphy
Unsung Hero of the Year & Moment of the Year: Still to be announced