GURSON AMONG FINALISTS FOR ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

St. Charles, MO

St. Louis Ambush forward Gordy Gurson is one of three finalists for the Major Arena Soccer League’s Rookie of the Year Award for the 2014-15 season. The league announced the finalists today for the MVP, Goalkeeper of the Year, Defender of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Coach of the Year. The winners in each category will be announced the week of the Ron Newman Cup Finals at a date to be announced when the final two teams competing for the title are determined. If he wins Rookie of the Year, it will be Gurson’s third post-season honor. He was named to the All-Rookie Team on March 5 and the All-Second Team on March 9.

In his rookie season, Gurson ranked second in the league in both goals and points, with 46 and 64, respectively. He came to the Ambush in a January 12 trade after starting the season with the Seattle Impact. Among other accomplishments during Gurson’s rookie season were a seven goal game, a five goal game, seven hat tricks, 18 assists and 11 power play goals. Because of the trade and the difference in schedules between St. Louis and Seattle, Gurson appeared in a record 23 games during the 20-game season.

Following are the finalists in each category:

Most Valuable Player Finalists

Player

Team

Highlights

Kraig Chiles

San Diego Sockers

Chiles makes the First Team for the fifth straight year after finishing third in scoring with 45 goals and 17 assists, including 10 hat tricks

Leo Gibson

Missouri Comets

Gibson set several records, scoring 48 goals, 45 assists, 93 points and 15 power play goals as well as most points in a game (12), and eight hat tricks

Lucas Totti

Oxford City FC of Texas

Totti was second among rookies with 55 points on 30 goals and 25 assists and led Texas to an 11 win improvement

Goalkeeper of the Year Finalists

Player

Team

Highlights

Chris Toth

San Diego Sockers

Toth went 12-3 with a 4.58 GAA, ranking third in wins and fourth in GAA

William Vanzela

Baltimore Blast

Vanzela went 14-2 with a record-setting 2.83 GAA and four shutouts

Danny Waltman

Missouri Comets

Waltman went 17-0 with a 4.83 GAA to set league record for wins

Defender of the Year Finalists

Player

Team

Highlights

Brian Harris

Missouri Comets

Harris scored 23 goals and 13 assists with 18 blocked shots

Pat Healey

Baltimore Blast

Healey scored seven goals and 22 assists and blocked a league-high 53 shots

John Sosa

Missouri Comets

Sosa scored 13 goals and 24 assists with 14 blocked shots

Rookie of the Year Finalists

Player

Team

Highlights

Gordy Gurson

St. Louis Ambush

The rookie Gurson scored 46 goals and 18 assists and 11 power play goals, and seven hat tricks in a record 23 games played

Onua Obasi

Baltimore Blast

Obasi used his physical 6’4″ frame and tremendous foot skills to impose his will on both ends of the floor, leading the Blast with 29 fouls while scoring nine goals and 10 assists in 19 games.

Lucas Totti

Oxford City FC of Texas

Totti was second among rookies with 55 points on 30 goals and 25 assists and led Texas to an 11 win improvement

Coach of the Year Finalists

Coach

Team

Highlights

Vlatko Andonovski

Missouri Comets

Andonovski, who led the Comets to an MISL championship last year, steered his team to a perfect 20-0 record this season

Bernie Lilavois

Ontario Fury

Lilavois led a turnaround that saw the Fury improve from 5-11 to 13-7 in their second year in the MASL

Giuliano Oliviero

Milwaukee Wave

Oliviero filled the very big shoes left by departing coaching legend Keith Tozer and guided the Wave to a 13-7 season