Galaxy's Donovan Ricketts is honored as top goalkeeper in MLS
After setting a team record with a 0.90 goals against average, the Los Angeles Galaxy's Donovan Ricketts has been named the 2010 Major League Soccer goalkeeper of the year.
He is the second Galaxy player to win the honor and the first since Kevin Hartman did so in 1999. Hartman, who now plays for FC Dallas, was also a finalist for this year's award, as was Nick Rimando of Real Salt Lake.
“This is a tremendous honor to be named the goalkeeper of the year in a league with so many outstanding goalkeepers," Ricketts said of the award that is determined by the votes of league players, general managers and coaches, as well as members of the media. "I am grateful to have won this award and I would like to thank everyone who voted for me.”
The 33-year-old Jamaican is only the second foreign player to win the award.
“This is a tremendous achievement for Donovan and I could not be happier that he was named the MLS goalkeeper of the year,l" Galaxy Coach Bruce Arenas said. "He has been an important part of our club’s defensive improvements over the past two seasons and he is fully deserving of this honor.”
Ricketts allowed 26 goals in 29 games this season, with a league-best record of 18-7-4. He kept 11 clean sheets, tying Hartman's club record and his 0.96 career goals against average is the lowest in MLS history for goalkeepers who have played 500 minutes or more.
In the postseason opener Sunday, Ricketts made a season-high eight saves, helping the Galaxy claim a 1-0 win over Seattle at Qwest Field.
-- Chuck Schilken
Photo: Donovan Ricketts. Credit: Kevin P. Casey / Associated Press
