BY WEB STAFF
sportsnet.ca
Major League Soccer announced that Chivas USA goalkeeper Zach Thornton was voted the 2009 Goalkeeper of the Year.
New England Revolution midfielder Steve Ralston was named the winner of the individual MLS Fair Play award, and the Chicago Fire earned the MLS Team Fair Play award as the MLS club with the fewest disciplinary points during the 2009 regular season.
The Goalkeeper of the Year and the Individual Fair Play award winners earned the most votes in polling of MLS players, general managers, coaches, referees and members of the media.
Thornton, 36, had arguably his best season in his 13-year MLS career. He led Chivas USA to a 13-11-6 record and posted a career best 12 shutouts and 0.87 goals against average. His 12 shutouts were one shy of the club record and his goals against average ranks second all-time behind Pat Onstad’s 0.82 in 2007. Thornton led the League in goals against average, shutouts and ranked second in wins with 12.
Thornton took over the starting role for Preki’s club this season, after being acquired in 2008 and playing in eight regular season games last season. The 2009 season was his first full season as a starter since 2006, when he was a member of the Chicago Fire. He started 27 of the team’s 30 games during the regular season and led Chivas to the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.
This marks the second Goalkeeper of the Year honor for Thornton. He joins Onstad and Joe Cannon as the only players to win the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award twice. He received the honor in 1998, after being selected by the Chicago Fire in the expansion draft, Thornton led the first-year club to an MLS Cup championship. He finished the 1998 season with 16 wins and a 1.17 goals against average.