Toronto FC's Maurice Edu Named MLS Awards Finalist
Toronto FC announced Tuesday that midfielder Maurice Edu is one of three finalists for the Gatorade Rookie of the Year Award.
Edu, 21, finished his rookie season with Toronto FC with 4 goals, 1 assist, and recorded 24 shots in 25 games all as a starter. His 2180 minutes ranked third best on the team, only behind co-captains Jim Brennan and Carl Robinson. It was a great rookie season for Edu after he spent the entire pre-season rehabbing a pelvis injury.
The midfielder was selected 1st overall in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft after enjoying a stellar college career at the University of Maryland where he was a first team NSCAA All-American and Hermann Trophy semifinalist in 2006.
His play this season also earned him the attention of USA Men’s National Team Head Coach Bob Bradley who selected Edu to play in the USA Friendly with Switzerland earlier this month. This was Edu’s first cap with the National Team.
Also up for the Gatorade Rookie of the Year are Adam Cristman of the New England Revolution, and Dane Richards of the New York Red Bulls.
The 2007 MLS Awards Finalists were announced by the league earlier Monday, with the winners for each award to be revealed in the coming weeks. The 2007 awards announcements culminate on Saturday November 17 with the unveiling of the Best XI and MLS Newcomer of the Year, which will both be announced at the MLS Awards Gala which are being held at MLS Cup in Washington, DC.
The finalists for Gatorade Rookie of the Year, as well as all other awards, earned the most votes in polling of MLS players, general managers, coaches, referees and members of the media. The Gatorade Rookie of the Year will be announced Wednesday November 7th.
2007 MLS Awards Finalists
Panasonic Goalkeeper of the Year Finalists
Brad Guzan – Chivas USA
Pat Onstad – Houston Dynamo
Matt Reis – New England Revolution
Fair Play Finalists – Individual
Cobi Jones – LA Galaxy
Michael Parkhurst – New England Revolution
Eddie Pope – Real Salt Lake
MLS Comeback Player of the Year Finalists
Frankie Hejduk – Columbus Crew
Eddie Johnson – Kansas City Wizards
Pat Noonan – New England Revolution
Visa Defender of the Year Finalists
Michael Parkhurst – New England Revolution
Eddie Robinson – Houston Dynamo
Claudio Suarez – Chivas USA
OSI Referee of the Year Finalists
Brian Hall
Jair Marrufo
Alex Prus
Gatorade ROOKIE of the YEAR Finalists
ADAM Cristman – New England Revolution
MAURICE Edu – Toronto FC
DANE Richards – New York Red Bulls
MLS Coach of the Year Finalists
Dominic Kinnear – Houston Dynamo
Preki – Chivas USA
Tom Soehn – DC United
Honda MLS Most Valuable Player Finalists
Juan Pablo Angel – New York Red Bulls
Cuauhtemoc Blanco – Chicago Fire
Luciano Emilio – D.C. United
Newcomer of the Year
Juan Pablo Angel – New York Red Bulls
Cuauhtemoc Blanco – Chicago Fire
Luciano Emilio – DC United
