Major League Soccer announced on Wednesday
that Chivas USA goalkeeper Zach Thornton was voted the 2009 Goalkeeper of the
Year.
Thornton, 36, had arguably the best season of his 13-year MLS career. He led
Chivas USA to a 13-11-6 record and posted a career best 12 shutouts and 0.87
goals against average.
His 12 shutouts were one shy of the club record and his goals against average
ranks second all-time behind Pat Onstad's 0.82 in 2007 for the Houston Dynamo.
Thornton led the league in goals against average, shutouts and ranked second
in wins with 12.
Thornton took over the starting role for Preki's club this season after being
acquired in 2008 and playing in eight regular season games last year.
The 2009 campaign was his first full year as a starter since 2006, when he was
a member of the Chicago Fire. He started 27 of the team's 30 games during the
regular season and led Chivas to the playoffs for the fourth consecutive
season.
This marks the second Goalkeeper of the Year honor for Thornton. He joins
Onstad and Joe Cannon as the only players to win the MLS Goalkeeper of the
Year award twice.
He received the honor in 1998 after being selected by the Chicago Fire in the
expansion draft as he led the first-year club to an MLS Cup championship. He
finished the 1998 season with 16 wins and a 1.17 goals against average.
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