Award season is fast approaching in MLS.
MLS PLAYER AWARDS | Higuain, Meram & Kamara on 2017 MVP ballot
Columbus Crew SC Designated Players Pedro Santos and Jonathan Mensahare on the ballot for the 2017 MLS Newcomer of the Year recognition.
Both in their first season with the club, Santos has appeared in seven matches (6 starts) since joining Crew SC in July; Mensah has played 24 matches (23 starts) after joining Columbus to start 2017.
Santos, playing primarily on the right wing, has two assists in just 470 minutes. Mensah, a Ghanaian international, has two goals and an assist as a central defender with 1,989 minutes of action.
Players, technical staffers (technical directors, GMs and coaches) and a select group of national and regional media will begin voting for each of the awards on Tuesday, October 17.
Columbus has officially clinched a spot in the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs, returning to the postseason for the third time in four seasons under Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter.
With two regular-season contests remaining, Crew SC is assured of finishing no lower than sixth place in the Eastern Conference by virtue of its win against D.C. United at MAPFRE Stadium on September 30. The win against D.C. United was the Black & Gold’s 12th regular-season home victory of 2017, setting a new club record for most regular-season wins at home.
Final postseason seeding will be determined in the coming weeks as the Black & Gold (15-12-5, 50 points) conclude the regular season along with all other MLS clubs.
Up next, Crew SC travels to take on Orlando City SC at Orlando City Stadium on Sunday, October 15 (5 p.m. ET / The CW Columbus, Spectrum Sports, BCSN2, CD102.5 FM, La Mega 103.1 FM, English radio stream available).
Each voting group, each representing one-third of the total vote, will have until Monday, October 23 at 5 pm ET to submit their ballots.
Below is the list of 38 players named to the ballot for the 2017 Newcomer of the Year award. All players on the Newcomer of the Year ballot are nominated by their respective club, with a maximum of two nominations permitted per team.
Complete ballots for the other awards will be released over the coming days. Finalists (three per award) will be announced on Tuesday, October 31.
2017 Newcomer of the Year Award Ballot
Club |
Player |
Pos |
|---|---|---|
ATL |
ALMIRON, Miguel |
M |
ATL |
MARTINEZ, Josef |
F |
CHI |
NIKOLIC, Nemanja |
F |
CHI |
SCHWEINSTEIGER, Bastian |
M |
COL |
AIGNER, Stefan |
M/F |
COL |
GATT, Josh |
M |
<strong>CLB</strong> |
<strong><a href="/players/jonathan-mensah">MENSAH, Jonathan</a></strong> |
<strong>D</strong> |
<strong>CLB</strong> |
<strong><a href="/players/pedro-santos">SANTOS, Pedro</a></strong> |
<strong>M</strong> |
DC |
ARRIOLA, Paul |
M |
DC |
CANOUSE, Russell |
M |
DAL |
LAMAH, Roland |
M |
HOU |
CABEZAS, Juan David |
M |
HOU |
ELIS, Alberth |
F |
LA |
ALESSANDRINI, Romain |
M/F |
MIN |
IBSON |
M |
MIN |
RAMIREZ, Christian |
F |
MTL |
DZEMAILI, Blerim |
M |
MTL |
PIETTE, Samuel |
M |
NE |
DELAMEA, Antonio |
D |
NE |
DIELNA, Claude |
D |
NYC |
MORALEZ, Maxi |
M |
NYC |
RING, Alex |
M |
NY |
MURILLO, Michael Amir |
D |
ORL |
SPECTOR, Jonathan |
D |
ORL |
YOTUN, Yoshimar |
M |
PHI |
MEDUNJANIN, Haris |
M |
POR |
BLANCO, Sebastian |
M |
POR |
GUZMAN, David |
M |
RSL |
RUSNAK, Albert |
M |
RSL |
SAVARINO, Jefferson |
M |
SJ |
JUNGWIRTH, Florian |
D |
SEA |
LEERDAM, Kelvin |
D |
SEA |
SVENSSON, Gustav |
D/M |
SKC |
FERNANDES, Gerso |
F |
SKC |
SANCHEZ, Ilie |
M |
TOR |
MAVINGA, Chris |
D |
TOR |
VAZQUEZ, Victor |
M |
VAN |
REYNA, Yordy |
M/F |
