Red Bull New York announced their 2008 Team Awards today. Forward Juan Pablo Angel won the club's 2008 Most Valuable Player award and the Golden Boot for the second-straight year, scoring a team-high 14 goals.
Along with his 14 goals, which was fourth in MLS and first in the Eastern Conference, the two-time MLS All-Star tallied three assists. The MLS Player of the Week for Week 20, Angel scored 12 goals in the final 15 games of the season. In less than two seasons with the Red Bulls, Angel has scored 33 goals in 47 games, putting him third all-time in club annals in that category. Angel has also recorded seven multi-goal games, which is second in team history.
Defender Kevin Goldthwaite won the team's Defender of the Year award. In his first full season with the Red Bulls, Goldthwaite started a career-high 28 games, logging 2,438 minutes both on the left side and in central defense. Goldthwaite leads all Red Bulls defenders in goals (2) and is tied for first in assists (2).
Midfielder Dave van den Bergh won the club's Unsung Player of the Year award for his consistent play throughout the season. Van den Bergh, who has played in 26 games for New York, ended 2008 second in goals (7) and assists (5). Acquired from the Kansas City Wizards in Jan. 2007, van den Bergh has played both left and centrally in the midfield and has also filled in at left back this season.
Midfielder Jorge Rojas took home the team's Newcomer of the Year award. Joining the team on July 17, 2008 from Caracas FC of the Venezuelan First Division, the Venezuelan National Team captain immediately made an impact in his first game on July 19 - recording a pair of assists in a 2-2 draw against the Los Angeles Galaxy. Rojas has played in 11 games for New York, starting in nine, and has five assists this season - tied for second on the team.
Midfielder Dane Richards won the team's Young Player of the Year award, given to the best player under the age of 25. After his rookie season in which he was a finalist for the MLS Rookie of the Year award, Richards has continued to be a prime contributor for New York, scoring a career-high three goals to go along with a team-high six assists. The former Clemson University product and Jamaican international has started in 18 games this season.
For the second-straight year, midfielder Seth Stammler won the USSF Humanitarian of the Year award. Last season, Stammler started his own charitable organization, the Sporting Chance Foundation after he went on a six-day service trip to Haiti with Grammy Award-winning musician Wyclef Jean and his charitable organization Yele Haiti in Nov. 2006. Inspired by his visit, Stammler created SCF to provide clean water wells and educational programs to Haitians and this year, he has grown SCF by holding several fundraisers around the tri-state area, raising thousands of dollars. For more information about SCF, log onto www.sportingchancefoundation.org. Outside of SCF, Stammer, from Gahanna, OH, has worked with Athletes for Charity, participated in Dick's Sporting Goods' "Shop with a Jock" and has made regular visits to patients at the Hackensack (NJ) Medical Center.
The Red Bulls also recently honored their 2008 Fan of the Year, John Russo of Fanwood, NJ, and the 2008 Youth Soccer Club of the Year, Edison United Soccer Association.
The team's MVP, Defender, Unsung Player, Newcomer and Young Player of the Year were all voted on by the Red Bulls' local media. The USSF Humanitarian of the Year award along with the Fan and Soccer Club of the Year were chosen after careful consideration by members of the Red Bulls' staff.
