Say this for the MLS postseason award voters, they didn’t put much stock in the statistics.
Major League Soccer Postseason Awards: Donovan Ricketts Elected Top Goalkeeper
Neither of the first two winners to be announced were the best players by any reasonable statistical measurement, but that didn't keep Andy Najar from being named the top rookie and, more surprisingly, Donovon Ricketts was chosen as Goalkeeper of the Year.
Ricketts’ number weren’t bad, but they were clearly third best. The only significant statistic he led the league in was wins (18), while he was third in Goals Against Average (.90), fifth in save percentage (76.0) and was tied with four other players for second in shutouts (11). All of those marks were significantly behind the leaders.
Kevin Hartman led MLS in GAA (.62) and save percentage (78.9), while Nick Rimando had the most shutouts (14).
Ricketts was durable, playing in 29 matches, but was bested by two players in that category as well. He also had two of the 10 longest shutout streaks this season (373 and 311, sixth and eighth longest).
More than anything, it appears as if voters appreciated his contribution to the Galaxy’s Supporters’ Shield-winning campaign.
Ricketts, a Jamaican, is just the second non-American to win the Goalkeeper of the Year. Pat Onstad (Canada) was the other.
Other award winners announced today include Andy Najar as Rookie of the Year, Sebastian Le Toux for Fair Play and the San Jose Earthquakes as the Fair Play Team.
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