Who is MLS' top rookie after Week 11?
Each week during the 2012 season, MLSsoccer.com's editors will cast their votes for the frontrunners, contenders and dark horses for MLS Rookie of the Year. By way of a virtuoso rookie campaign, Sporting Kansas City's C.J. Sapong took home the award in 2011, leaving a new crop of rookies to fight for the top honor handed out to first-year pros in Major League Soccer.
Ryan Meara hasn't posted a shutout in two weeks, but he keeps posting wins. That's good enough to keep the New York Red Bulls netminder in the top spot after a week that saw a series of stalemates across the league.
While Meara has been Mr. Consistent, early-season hotshot Nick DeLeon has finally started to see his stock slide after missing multiple games with a hamstring injury. The tricky flanker hasn't featured for D.C. United for several weeks, but the Black-and-Red have kept on winning, taking home full honors in three of their last four outings.
Make your voice heard by voting in the poll to the right!
Only MLS regular-season games reflected on schedule and statistics. All times are Eastern.
<strong>Rank</strong> |
<strong>Trending</strong> |
<strong>Last </strong> |
<strong>Player</strong> |
<strong>Comment</strong> |
<strong>1</strong> |
<img alt="" height="40" src="//league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/straight-line.png" width="40"> |
<strong>1</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/Meara.jpg" style="width: 55px; height: 55px;"><strong>Ryan Meara</strong> |
<p>The Red Bulls went from one of the league's leakiest sides to a team that's played largely lock-down defense over the past five matchdays. Meara's ability to come off his line and snuff out attacks before they become dangerous has played a big part in that, and RBNY are atop the Eastern Conference as a result.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong>Defeated Montreal, 2-1 (5 saves)</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Wednesday vs. Chivas USA (7:30 pm, Univision Deportes)</li><li><strong>Season Statistics:</strong> 1.42 GAA, 8-3-1 (12 GP, 12 GS)</li><li><strong>SAVE: <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2012-05-19-mtl-v-ny/highlights?videoID=186231"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Meara stops Nyassi</span></a>, SAVE: <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2012-05-05-la-v-ny/highlights?videoID=184737" target="_blank">Meara robs Juninho</a>, SAVE: <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2012-04-28-ny-v-ne/highlights?videoID=183704" target="_blank">Meara dives for Nguyen's curler</a></strong></li><li><strong><a href="http://fantasy.mlssoccer.com/" target="_blank">MLS Fantasy Soccer Manager</a>:</strong> 51 points, $5.2 million (13.1 percent owned)</li></ul> |
<strong>2</strong> |
<img alt="" height="40" src="//league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/arrow-up-with-shadow_1.png" width="40"> |
<strong>4</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/Cascio.jpg" style="width: 55px; height: 55px;"><strong>Tony Cascio</strong> |
<p>Cascio didn't get on the score sheet in either of Colorado's contests last week, but he continues to be a threat almost every time he sets foot on the pitch. The youngster went 90 minutes midweek in the 2-0 loss to D.C. and then 89 in the Rapids' impressive 2-2 fightback against Sporting, and he was busy throughout.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong>Lost to D.C., 2-0 (90 min); Drew Sporting, 2-2 (89 min)</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday vs. Montreal (9 pm, <strong><a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/?utm_source=MLSsoccer&utm_medium=Article&utm_campaign=MLS%2BLive" target="_blank">MLS LIVE)</a></strong></li><li><strong>Season Statistics:</strong> 2 G, 1 A (12 GP, 11 GS)</li><li><strong>GOAL: <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2012-04-28-col-v-chv/highlights?videoID=183868" target="_blank">Cascio curls beauty inside back post</a>, GOAL: </strong><strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2012-03-18-phi-v-col/highlights?videoID=179471" target="_blank">Cascio scores winner in Philly</a></strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2012-03-18-phi-v-col/highlights?videoID=179471" target="_blank"></a></li><li><strong><a href="http://fantasy.mlssoccer.com/" target="_blank">MLS Fantasy Soccer Manager</a>:</strong> 29 points, $6.2 million (8.0 percent owned)</li></ul> |
<strong>3</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/red-arrow-down2_0.png" style="width: 40px; height: 40px;"> |
<strong>2</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/DeLeon.jpg" style="width: 55px; height: 55px;"><strong>Nick DeLeon</strong> |
<p>D.C.'s Ben Olsen has been careful with his prized rookie, giving him plenty of time to recover from a hamstring strain. As a result, DeLeon watched a pair of multi-goal wins in street clothes, and saw guys he's competing with for playing time – Danny Cruz and Branko Boskovic – excel in his absence.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong>Defeated Colorado, 2-0; Defeated Toronto FC, 3-1</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday vs. New England (7:30 pm, <strong><a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/?utm_source=MLSsoccer&utm_medium=Article&utm_campaign=MLS%2BLive" target="_blank">MLS LIVE</a>)</strong></li><li><strong>Season Statistics:</strong> 3 G, 3 A (9 GP, 8 GS)</li><li><strong>GOAL: <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2012-04-22-dc-v-ny/highlights?videoID=183164" target="_blank">DeLeon's shot deflects past Meara</a>, GOAL: <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/video/2012/03/30/goal-deleon-roofs-it" target="_blank">DeLeon roofs it</a></strong>, <strong>ASSIST: <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2012-03-30-dc-v-dal/highlights?videoID=180734" target="_blank">DeLeon sets up Cruz</a></strong>, <strong>GOAL: <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2012-03-18-la-v-dc/highlights?videoID=179502" target="_blank">DeLeon bends it in</a></strong></li><li><strong><a href="http://fantasy.mlssoccer.com/" target="_blank">MLS Fantasy Soccer Manager</a>:</strong> 52 points, $6.6 million (25.7 percent owned)</li></ul> |
<strong>4</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/red-arrow-down2_0.png" style="width: 40px; height: 40px;"> |
<strong>3</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/imagefield_thumbs/Berry.jpg" style="width: 55px; height: 55px;"><strong>Austin Berry</strong> |
<p>Berry got his first chance at the "Shoebox", as teammate Dan Gargan termed Portland's JELD-WEN Field, and the Fire didn't come out smelling of roses. The entire backline struggled to contain the Timbers' aerial corps, and Berry was no different in that regard. A good lesson for the rookie, but a painful loss.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong>Lost at Portland, 2-1 (90 min)</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday at Columbus (7 pm, Univision Deportes)</li><li><strong>Season Statistics:</strong> 1 G (4 GP, 4 GS)</li><li><strong>GOAL: <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2012-05-04-chv-v-chi/highlights?videoID=184563" target="_blank">Berry ties game with tidy finish</a></strong></li><li><strong><a href="http://fantasy.mlssoccer.com/" target="_blank">MLS Fantasy Soccer Manager</a>:</strong> 24 points, $4.3 million (2.3 percent owned)</li></ul> |
<strong>5</strong> |
<img alt="" height="40" src="//league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/straight-line.png" width="40"> |
<strong>5</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/Gaddis.jpg" style="width: 55px; height: 55px;"><strong>Raymon Gaddis</strong> |
<p>For a team that seems to eschew consistency and lineup cohesion, Gaddis certainly has adjusted well. The fleet-footed fullback put in a serious shift in the Union's trip to Frisco, working 90 solid minutes up and down the left flank.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong>Drew with FC Dallas, 1-1 (90 min)</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday at Toronto (4:30 pm, <strong><a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/?utm_source=MLSsoccer&utm_medium=Article&utm_campaign=MLS%2BLive" target="_blank">MLS LIVE</a>)</strong></li><li><strong>Season Statistics:</strong> 6 GP, 6 GS</li><li><strong>SAVE: <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/video/2012/05/05/save-gaddis-clears-montero-shot" target="_blank">Gaddis clears Montero's shot</a></strong></li><li><strong><a href="http://fantasy.mlssoccer.com/" target="_blank">MLS Fantasy Soccer Manager</a>:</strong> 19 points, $4.1 million (8.6 percent owned)</li></ul> |
Also receiving votes: Connor Lade, Sam Garza, Darren Mattocks
