Onstad nominated for award

[Massive Attack]

Canadian up for MLS goalkeeper of the year

NEW YORK (CP) - Canadian Pat Onstad has been selected one of three finalists for goalkeeper of the year in Major League Soccer.

Onstad helped the defending champion San Jose Earthquakes to the MLS Cup in Carson Calif., this Sunday against the Chicago Fire. The Vancouver goalkeeper, in his first year with the Quakes, had nine shutouts (tied for the league league) and a 1.04 goals-against average (second best in the league) in 27 games. His regular-season record was 14-5-8.

Other finalists are Kevin Hartman of the Los Angeles Galaxy and Zach Thornton of the Chicago Fire.

Finalists for rookie of the year award are Ricardo Clark of the MetroStars, Pat Noonan of the New England Revolution and Damani Ralph of the Chicago Fire.

Referee of the year will come from one of Brian Hall, Kevin Stott and Terry Vaughn.

Winners will be announced Saturday at the 2003 MLS awards ceremony on at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, Calif.

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/2003/11/17/260618-cp.html

[marcl_19]

I thought san jose won in 2001?

[jonovision]

It appears you're right. In fact, I remember watching that game, and after Dwayne scored the golden goal, he took off his jersey and he had a white shirt on underneath with an anti-war message. This would have been 2 months after Sept 11th. I remember being very proud that he was from Canada.

According to mlsnet.com, Los Angeles won the MLS Cup last year over New England, so San Jose are not defending champions, unless the article is referring to the fact that they won the league (first in regular season play), which may or may not be true.

MLS League History

2002: The Newcomers

Year Seven (2002) began with the difficult but necessary (and later lauded) decision to cease operations in Miami and Tampa Bay and return to a 10-team league with dedicated owner-operators in each market. For the seventh consecutive season, the on-field product improved exponentially, and the rapid development of MLS play led the U.S. to the quarterfinals of World Cup Korea/Japan.

Attendance increased for the second consecutive season, capped by an unbelievable MLS Cup final featuring more than 61,000 fans at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro. Newcomers Carlos Ruiz and Taylor Twellman’s heated regular-season scoring and MVP races culminated with their teams, Los Angeles and New England, facing off in the Cup. Ruiz’ golden goal gave Los Angeles its first MLS Cup trophy in four trips to Major League Soccer’s crowning event.