With two games remaining in the regular season and eight teams vying for final playoff spots, FC Dallas is not sure what the coming weeks hold, but the club is certain about three things: forward Jeff Cunningham is the team's Most Valuable Player; Dario Sala is Defender of the Year and Pablo Ricchetti is the U.S. Soccer Foundation Humanitarian of the Year.
Both the MVP and Defender of the Year awards were voted on by local media, Ricchetti's honor was chosen by the FC Dallas Foundation.
The team will honor all three athletes prior to Saturday's match with Colorado. Additionally, the Michael Johnson Performance Center will present Cunningham with the Michael Johnson Performer of the Year award.
An integral part of the team's second-half surge, Cunningham was the unanimous winner of the 2009 team MVP. After making just eight starts and scoring one goal in the first half of the season, the 32-year-old forward hit the hottest streak in MLS history by scoring 16 goals in the last 13 games. His signature game came on Aug. 1, when he scored four goals to shut out the Kansas City Wizards 6-0 in front of a home crowd at Pizza Hut Park. Cunningham's recent run has helped FC Dallas become a contender for a spot in the 2009 MLS Cup. Dallas is 8-2-0 when Cunningham scores and his efforts have been recognized by the media and fans who voted him MLS Player of the Month for September, MLS Player of the Week four times this season and MLS Goal of the Week three consecutive weeks.
While Cunningham was burning up the offensive end of the field, Sala was deflecting opponents. The effort has delivered a first Defender of the Year title for the fifth-year goalkeeper. After being sidelined by a meniscus tear in his left knee early in the season, Sala made his return in goal on Aug. 1, earning his first shutout of the season 6-0 over Kansas City. In a defense rattled by injuries and suspensions throughout the year, Sala became a steady force, helping the squad record four shutouts under his leadership. He was rewarded with the captain's armband in the 3-0 win over Real Salt Lake on Sept. 26. Sala's heroic saves also have been recognized by the fans, who voted him three Save of the Week awards this season.
In the community, Ricchetti has continually dedicated his time to serving children in need. For two years, Ricchetti has volunteered with the Frisco Miracle League, which was created to give children with disabilities a chance to play sports. Ricchetti has not only been a "Buddy" to the Miracle League children, but has, for the second year in a row, set up a fundraiser for the League. Ricchetti has collected more than 20 jerseys from MLS Players, National Teams, and International Players during the 2009 season and donated them to the Frisco Miracle League for their annual raffle to raise funds to support their sport programs. Ricchetti is a strong advocate for granting wishes to children with life threatening illnesses and has invited these children and their families to games throughout the 2009 season, making them his special guests for the night, gifting them with a personalized autographed jersey and giving them locker room tours after games. Ricchetti's dedication to children with life threatening illnesses helped create the Summer Santa Toy Drive in conjunction with community advocates. On Sept. 26, fans brought new toys to the FC Dallas home game which will be delivered to children at local Children Hospitals by the team.
