TAMPA, Fla. – The finalists for the 2019 USL Championship Awards were announced by the United Soccer League on Wednesday, with the leading performers in five categories earning nomination after a historic 2019 campaign. The award winners will be announced between Tuesday, Nov. 19 and Thursday, Nov. 21.
The 2019 USL Championship Awards were voted on by team management and a league-wide media panel that included representation from every USL market.
Goalkeeper of the Year – Winner announced Tuesday, November 19
Zac Lubin
Phoenix Rising FC
Lubin finished tied for second in the league with 13 shutouts while recording 79 saves, the most of any goalkeeper to record double-digit shutouts over the regular season, at a save percentage of 75.7 percent.
Kyle Morton
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
Morton finished second in the league with a 0.83 goals-against average, finished tied for second with 13 shutouts and played a key role as the Hounds posted the second-longest shutout streak in Championship history of 698 minutes.
Matt Pickens
Nashville SC
Pickens earned the Championship’s Golden Glove with a 0.64 goals-against average while posting a league-high 14 shutouts and a save percentage of 79.8 percent that saw him lead NSC to a second-place finish in the Eastern Conference.
Compare Players
DEFENDER OF THE YEAR – Winner announced Tuesday, November 19
Joe Greenspan
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
Earning nomination for a second consecutive year, Greenspan won 69.4 percent of duels and 75 percent of aerials and finished fourth in the league with 151 clearances for a backline that ranked first in the league with 17 shutouts.
Neveal Hackshaw
Indy Eleven
Hackshaw proved an integral part of an Indy defense that conceded a league-fewest six goals at home while ranking in the top 10 among outfield players with 231 recoveries and winning 65.8 of duels – 10th in the league among players to win at least 175 duels in the regular season.
Oscar Jimenez
Louisville City FC
Jimenez added to his reputation as one of the leading dead-ball specialists in the league, finishing tied for second in the Championship in Chances Created with 90 while recording seven assists and completing 1,498 passes at an accuracy rate of 81.6 percent.
Compare Players
COACH OF THE YEAR – Winner announced Wednesday, November 20
Bob Liley
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
In his second season with the Hounds, Lilley led Pittsburgh to a first-place finish in the Eastern Conference as his side led the Championship with 17 shutouts and posted a club record for wins in a regular season with 19.
Ian Russel
Reno 1868 FC
Russell led Reno to a third consecutive postseason berth and its best finish in the Championship’s Western Conference as it ranked third in the league with 72 goals to take second position in the standings.
Rick Schantz
Phoenix Rising FC
In his first full season at the helm, Schantz led Rising FC to a Championship record 24 victories, 79 points and 89 goals, which included a North American outdoor record 20 consecutive league victories that spanned more than four months.
YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Winner announced Wednesday, November 20
Felipe Hernandez
Swope Park Rangers
A member of the 2018 USL 20 Under 20, Hernandez continued to raise his game to the tune of eight goals, five assists and 45 chances created for the Rangers this season.
Douglas Martinez
Real Monarchs SLC
Earning selection to the Honduras National Team during the campaign, Martinez scored 16 goals and added six assists for the Monarchs at a rate of a goal every 109.2 minutes for the Western Conference Champion.
Cristian Parano
San Antonio FC
The young Argentine recorded seven goals and six assists while posting 53 chances created over the course of his first season in San Antonio, earning the No. 2 position in the 2019 USL 20 Under 20 in the process.
Compare Players
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER – Winner announced Thursday, November 21
Solomon Asante
Phoenix Rising FC
Asante became only the second player in the Championship’s history to win both the Golden Boot and Assists Champion awards, setting a league record with 17 assists and 39 combined goals and assists for the Regular Season Title-Winners.
Kenardo Forbes
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
Forbes orchestrated the Hounds’ ascent to the top of the Championship’s Eastern Conference, recording nine assists and four goals while completing 1,513 passes and making 291 recoveries as he appeared in every game of the regular season.
Daniel Rios
Nashville SC
Rios became the first player in the Championship’s history to record 20 regular-season goals in back-to-back seasons as he led Nashville SC to a second-place finish in the Eastern Conference with a spectacular campaign.
Compare Players
Follow the USL Championship
Most Recent News
San Antonio FC inks Jorge Hernandez to multi-year contract
- By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com 12/05/2024, 3:30pm EST
What could Ronaldo Damus bring to Birmingham Legion in the 2025 season?
- By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com 12/05/2024, 2:30pm EST
Le Rouge add Shane Wiedt to defensive corps
- By USLChampionship.com Staff 12/05/2024, 1:00pm EST
Most Read News
Terry Boss Named Head Coach of Lexington Sporting Club
- By USLsoccer.com Staff 12/04/2024, 2:00pm EST
Las Vegas Lights announce initial roster moves for 2025 USL Championship season
- By USLChampionship.com Staff 12/04/2024, 3:58pm EST
Indy Eleven signs League One Defender of the Year Bruno Rendón
- By USLChampionship.com Staff 12/05/2024, 11:00am EST
Latest Videos
Putting a bow on the 2024 USL Championship season | USL All Access
- By USLChampionship.com Staff 12/04/2024, 10:00am EST
How Colorado Springs Switchbacks won the 2024 USL Championship Final | USL All Access
- By USLChampionship.com Staff 11/27/2024, 8:25am EST
VOTE – USL Championship Save of the Playoffs
- By USLChampionship.com Staff 11/26/2024, 4:00pm EST
VOTE - USL Championship Goal of the Playoffs
- By USLChampionship.com Staff 11/26/2024, 3:00pm EST
Which club is going to lift the USL Championship trophy? | USL All Access
- By USLChampionship.com Staff 11/20/2024, 1:00pm EST
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC’s Eric Dick earns USL Championship Goalkeeper of the Year
- By USLChampionship.com Staff 11/19/2024, 1:30pm EST
Tag(s): News Nashville SC San Antonio FC Phoenix Rising FC Real Monarchs SLC Reno 1868 FC Swope Park Rangers Louisville City FC Pittsburgh Riverhounds Neveal Hackshaw Felipe Hernandez Matt Pickens Kenardo Forbes Oscar Jimenez Kyle Morton Joseph Greenspan Douglas Martinez Indy Eleven Zac Lubin Solomon Asante Cristian Parano Daniel Rios