Philly Sports Jabronis
Reports From Philadelphia Union
Philadelphia Union Goalkeeper Andre Blake Wins Allstate MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Award
CHESTER, Pa. – Major League Soccer today announced that Philadelphia Union goalkeeper Andre Blake has won the 2016 Allstate MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Award. In his first full season as the first choice goalkeeper for Philadelphia, Blake compiled a stellar campaign that saw him start 32 matches, stop 99 shots and register 10 of the Union’s 11 wins (with six shutouts) while being nominated for the League’s Save of the Week award 12 times.
Voted upon by MLS club management, media, and current players, Blake was joined by Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids) and Luis Robles (New York Red Bulls) as a finalist for the award.
Blake joined Philadelphia ahead of the 2014 season after being the first and only goalkeeper to ever be selected first overall in the MLS SuperDraft that year. The native of Jamaica recorded six or more saves on five different occasions throughout the 2016 campaign and was named as a 2016 MLS All-Star, where he served as the starter for the MLS squad against English Premier League side Arsenal FC.
Blake has also served as the first choice goalkeeper for his country’s national time, most recently backstopping Jamaica to a shutout victory over Suriname that saw the Reggae Boyz secure qualification for both the 2017 Caribbean Cup and the 2017 Gold Cup.
The goalkeeper becomes the first Philadelphia player to ever be named MLS Goalkeeper of the Year as well as the fourth member of the Union to ever capture a year-end MLS award, including the third this season alone. Blake joins Chris Pontius (2016 MLS Comeback Player of the Year), Keegan Rosenberry (2016 MLS Fair Play Award) and Sebastien Le Toux (2010 MLS Best XI, 2010 and 2011 MLS Fair Play Award) as Union players to earn a year-end League honor.
Blake will be available to the media via conference call tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. ET. To join the call dial 800-582-3014 and enter the code 17252609, followed by the pound sign (#) for access to the call. Upon entering the call, please announce your name and outlet, and then mute your line for the duration of the call, unless asking a question. Matt Bodiford of Philadelphia Union Communications will moderate.
MLS Goalkeeper of the Year – All-Time Winners:
2016: Andre Blake – Philadelphia Union
2015: Luis Robles – New York Red Bulls
2014: Bill Hamid – D.C. United
2013: Donovan Ricketts – Portland Timbers
2012: Jimmy Nielsen – Sporting Kansas City
2011: Kasey Keller – Seattle Sounders FC
2010: Donovan Ricketts – LA Galaxy
2009: Zach Thornton – Chivas USA
2008: Jon Busch – Chicago Fire
2007: Brad Guzan – Chivas USA
2006: Troy Perkins – D.C. United
2005: Pat Onstad – San Jose Earthquakes
2004: Joe Cannon – Colorado Rapids
2003: Pat Onstad – San Jose Earthquakes
2002: Joe Cannon – San Jose Earthquakes
2001: Tim Howard – MetroStars
2000: Tony Meola – Kansas City Wizards
1999: Kevin Hartman – Los Angeles Galaxy
1998: Zach Thornton – Chicago Fire
1997: Brad Friedel – Columbus Crew
1996: Mark Dodd – Dallas Burn
Philadelphia Union Midfielder Chris Pontius Wins MLS Comeback Player of the Year Award
CHESTER, Pa. – Major League Soccer today announced that Philadelphia Union midfielder Chris Pontius has won the 2016 MLS Comeback Player of the Year Award. In his first season with Philadelphia, Pontius tied his career best in goals with 12 while adding a personal single-season best six assists just two years removed from multiple hamstring surgeries that limited his playing time during the 2014 campaign. He also set single-season career bests in appearances (33), starts (32) and minutes played (2,571) this year.
Voted upon by MLS club management, media, and current players, the award honors an MLS player who has overcome injuries and/or adversity to achieve success during the 2016 regular season. Pontius was joined as a finalist by Frank Lampard (New York City FC) and Kevin Molino (Orlando City SC) for the award.
Pontius joined the Union ahead of the 2016 season via trade from D.C. United. Formerly of the University of California, Santa Barbara, the midfielder appeared in a career-best 33 matches for Philadelphia this season. His 12 goals led the club while tying for the most scored by an American player in MLS this year, and his six assists were tied for second among all Union players. He was named MLS Player of the Week in Week 14 after scoring a goal and adding an assist in Philadelphia’s 3-2 victory over Columbus.
The midfielder becomes the first Philadelphia player to ever be named MLS Comeback Player of the Year as well as the third member of the Union to ever capture a year-end MLS award, joining Keegan Rosenberry (2016 MLS Fair Play Award) and Sebastien Le Toux (2010 MLS Best XI, 2010 and 2011 MLS Fair Play Award).
Pontius will be available to the media via conference call tomorrow morning at 11 a.m. ET. To join the call dial 800-582-3014 and enter the code 17252609, followed by the pound sign (#) for access to the call. Upon entering the call, please announce your name and outlet, and then mute your line for the duration of the call, unless asking a question. Matt Bodiford of Philadelphia Union Communications will moderate.
Other Major League Soccer year-end awards are slated to be announced in the coming days. Union goalkeeper Andre Blake is a finalist for Allstate Goalkeeper of the Year.
MLS Comeback Player of the Year – All-Time Winners:
2016: Chris Pontius – Philadelphia Union
2015: Tim Melia – Sporting Kansas City
2014: Rodney Wallace – Portland Timbers
2013: Kevin Alston – New England Revolution
2012: Eddie Johnson – Seattle Sounders FC
2011: David Beckham – LA Galaxy
2010: Bobby Convey – San Jose Earthquakes
2009: Zach Thornton – Chivas USA
2008: Kenny Cooper – FC Dallas
2007: Eddie Johnson – Kansas City Wizards
2006: Richard Mulrooney – FC Dallas
2005: Chris Klein – Kansas City Wizards
2004: Brian Ching – San Jose Earthquakes
2003: Chris Armas – Chicago Fire
2002: Chris Klein – Kansas City Wizards
2001: Troy Dayak – San Jose Earthquakes
2000: Tony Meola – Kansas City Wizards
