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November 5, 2007

Cranston's Parkhurst named MLS Defender of the Year

New England Revolution mainstay and Cranston native Michael Parkhurst has been named Major League Soccer's Defender of the Year, his second league award of the season -- last week, he was honored with the Fair Play Award.

“I’m honored to be voted the league’s defender of the year,” Parkhurst said. “There are a lot of great defenders in this league so to be singled out is humbling. Any defensive award is also a testament to the whole team, so my teammates - from the back to the front - are a big part of this honor."

The 23-year old beat Houston's Eddie Robinson and Chivas USA's Claudio Suarez in a vote of media, MLS players, and club coaches and officials. Parkhurst missed the first three games of the season with a shoulder injury, but since then has anchored a defense that posted 10 shutouts in 30 regular-season games, plus two more in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs against New York.

Parkhurst also scored one of the best goals of the season in the Revs' regular-season finale, making his first shot on net a memorable one when he intercepted a pass against Toronto FC and fired from more than 60 yards out. His shot went over the head of Toronto keeper Kenny Stamatopoulos and into the net.

Believed to be too small at 5-foot-10, 160 pounds to excel as a defender at the top levels, Parkhurst has proven critics wrong since being drafted by New England out of Wake Forest in 2005.

He was named MLS Rookie of the Year, and has since been called to the U.S. National team.

Last year, Parkhurst was selected as the U.S. Soccer Humanitarian of the Year for his work in the community.

Posted by Shalise Manza Young at 2:15 PM to Revolution | Permalink

November 5, 2007

Cranston's Parkhurst named MLS Defender of the Year

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