CHIVAS USA ANNOUNCED ITS 2011 TEAM AWARDS
 
CARSON, CA. (Tuesday, October 25, 2011) – Prior to Saturday’s Chivas USA final match of the 2011 MLS season at the Home Depot in Carson, California, the club announced its annual team award winners for the 2011 Season. Five different Goats were honored in the following categories:
 
The Chivas USA 2011 Golden Boot Award – Nick LaBrocca
The Chivas USA 2011 Most Valuable Player of the Year – Dan Kennedy
The Chivas USA 2011 Defender of the Year – Heath Pearce
The Chivas USA 2011 Humanitarian of the Year – Michael Lahoud
The Chivas USA 2011 Spirit of Chivas USA – Alejandro Moreno
 
The Chivas USA 2011 Golden Boot Award – Nick LaBrocca – Chivas USA’s Golden Boot of 2011 recipient is New Jersey native midfielder Nick LaBrocca. Nick scored a total of 8 goals and 6 assists in 34 total matches with 3,058 minutes on the season, narrowly outdueling by one assist, teammate Justin Braun for the award who tallied 8 goals and 5 assists. LaBrocca tied the number of helpers he had in the 2010 season, however this 2011 has indeed been a career season for Nick. Earlier in the campaign he scored MLS’s 10,000th goal in the history of the league, was named to his first MLS All Star game and was the only Goat to start every match this season.
 
The Chivas USA 2011 Most Valuable Player of the Year – Dan Kennedy – Chivas USA Goalkeeper and Yorba Linda native Dan Kennedy is this year’s recipient of the team’s Most Valuable Player Award. For his consistency and excellent play Kennedy’s final stats this season put him in the Top 5 keepers of MLS. Kennedy racked up a total of 2880 minutes in 32 matches, including 9 shutouts and 100 saves. In addition Danny is also nominated for MLS Comeback Player of the Year Award for 2011, after seeing limited amount of action last season and missing the entire season of 2009 due to a knee injury.
 
The Chivas USA 2011 Defender of the Year – Heath Pearce – Chivas USA defender and Modesto, California native Heath Pearce is 2011’s Defender of the Year Award recipient. For an extraordinary record of consistency which has in addition earned Pearce a couple of call ups to the USMNT for international friendly matches and additionally, was named to his second MLS All Star team earlier this season. Heath had started in 26 consecutive matches and accumulated more than 2,300 consecutive minutes until he was forced to abandon the pitch due to a hamstring injury. His numbers at the end of the season are 30 total games played with a total of 2581 minutes with ten shots on goal.
 
The Chivas USA 2011 Humanitarian of the Year – Michael Lahoud – For his untiring support and effort to help his native Sierra Leone through the non-profit organization ‘Schools for Salome’ in the rebuilding of schools in Africa, Wake Forrest Alum Michael Lahoud is this year’s Humanitarian of the Year recipient. For this same effort Michael is also nominated in MLS’s Humanitarian of the Year Award. His stats for 2011 were 23 matches with a total of 1341 minutes, a scored goal and 12 shots on goal.
 
The Chivas USA 2011 Spirit of Chivas USA – Alejandro Moreno – This season’s Spirit of Chivas USA Award recipient is Venezuelan native Alejandro Moreno. Alejandro is the epitome of what Chivas USA strives to be in all that it does. His tireless work ethic, commitment to team values and leadership are reminders that Chivas USA is first and foremost a team and family. In addition Moreno has had three call ups so far this year for La Vinotinto, in which Venezuela has played at one of its highest levels in recent history. His final MLS season stats for 2011 are: 24 games with 5 goals, 2,016 total minutes and 30 shots on goal.
 
About Chivas USA
Founded in 2004, Los Angeles-based Club Deportivo Chivas USA has achieved remarkable success in six full seasons in Major League Soccer. From 2006-2009, the Mexican-owned club qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs in four consecutive seasons, to the delight of its passionate supporters. In addition, Chivas USA’s innovative grassroots programs demonstrate its deep commitment to the Southern California community, while the club’s youth teams and Soccer Academies offer unprecedented opportunities to the region’s best young talent. For more information on Chivas USA, please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visit cdchivasusa.com.