Galaxy's Omar Gonzalez named league's top defender

Galaxy’s Omar Gonzalez named league’s top defender

Staff Writer

Nov. 9, 2011 12:08 PM PT

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The Galaxy’s Omar Gonzalez was named Major League Soccer’s Defender of the Year on Wednesday, his second major postseason award in three seasons.

In 2009 he was the league’s Rookie of the Year. At 23, Gonzalez becomes the youngest player to win the league’s top defensive honor. Teammate Todd Dunivant finished fifth in the voting.

Gonzalez anchored a backline that allowed a league-low 28 goals in 34 games this season while posting a record-tying 17 shutouts.

The Galaxy, which finished with the league’s best regular-season record before running the table in the playoffs, meets the Houston Dynamo in the MLS Cup final Nov. 20 at the Home Depot Center.

Bruce Arena remains committed to American soccer

T.J. Simers: You name it, the Galaxy’s $250-million man hasn’t been worth it

-- Kevin Baxter

Sports Now

Kevin Baxter

Kevin Baxter writes about soccer and other things for the Los Angeles Times, where he has worked for 27 years. He has covered seven World Cups, four Olympic Games, six World Series and a Super Bowl and has contributed to three Pulitzer Prize-winning series at The Times and Miami Herald. An essay he wrote in fifth grade was voted best in the class. He has a cool dog.

Galaxy’s Omar Gonzalez named league’s top defender

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