D.C. United today announced the club’s end-of-season award winners for the 2013 Major League Soccer season.
In just his third year, midfielder Perry Kitchen took home the 2013 Volkswagen Most Valuable Player Award. The defensive midfielder led the Black-and-Red in games played (31), games started (31), minutes played (2,773) and assists (4) during the 2013 season. While solidifying the midfield for United, Kitchen reached the 8,000-minute mark against the New England Revolution on Sept. 21. Kitchen is the second player in League history age 21 and under to achieve this feat, with Eddie Gaven logging 8,000 minutes by age 19.
D.C. United’s first Homegrown player signing, Bill Hamid was named D.C.’s Defender of the Year. Starting 25 games for United, Hamid finished the season with a 1.56 GAA while anchoring the back line for the Black-and-Red. Hamid’s diving save against the Houston Dynamo in the first week of the season earned him MLS Save of the Week honors and he was an MLS Save of the Week nominee on several other occasions. The 22-year-old was also a member of the CONCACAF Gold Cup champions U.S. Men’s National Team and was the only goalkeeper named to MLSSoccer.com’s 24 under 24 list in 2013.
Midfielder Lewis Neal was selected as the Volkswagen Fan Choice via online voting, thanks in part to his game-winning goal against Real Salt Lake in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup championship game. The strike secured the club’s 13th major international and domestic trophy, as well as a berth into the 2014-15 CONCACAF Champions League. Neal was signed by D.C. United on March 13, 2012 and he scored an equally historic goal during his first campaign. This stoppage-time strike against the Columbus Crew on Oct. 20, 2012 propelled United to its first playoff berth in five years. Neal, who was injured for a majority of the season, has been a key contributor in the midfield since his return in August.
The MLS Rookie of the Year runner-up in 2012, Nick DeLeon earned both Goal of the Year honors as well as the 2013 Coaches Award. Against the Philadelphia Union on Oct. 12, DeLeon took the ball at midfield and fired a shot from 30-yards out
to beat a diving Zac MacMath, and his strike was nominated as an AT&T MLS Goal of the Week. In being honored with the Coaches Award, DeLeon’s consistent effort and professionalism throughout the season were cited as key reasons for this recognition.
United midfielder Luis Silva took home the club’s Golden Boot honors with three goals and two assists. Although Dwayne De Rosario and Kyle Porter both finished the season with three goals, Silva claimed the award by two tiebreakers: the first being assists with the Black-and-Red and the next being goals per game with United in 2013. Silva, acquired on July 9 from Toronto FC, scored a goal in each of his first three games with D.C., ending the season with an assist on Porter’s goal against the Houston Dynamo on Oct. 27. The fourth overall pick in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft, Silva spent his rookie season with Toronto FC, netting five goals and adding five assists in 2012.
Lastly, De Rosario was awarded United’s MLS W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian of the Year. Throughout the course of the 2013 MLS season, the Canadian international has been a leader in the Washington D.C., Metropolitan community. This year, De Rosario donated $10,000 to the “Kicks for Kids” program and was featured as a main spokesperson for MLS’ “Don’t Cross the Line” campaign. In October, De Rosario was rewarded for his service with MLS W.O.R.K.S Humanitarian of the Month honors. Other efforts include regularly visiting Children’s National Medical Center as well as visiting soldiers at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
Volkswagen Most Valuable Player: Perry Kitchen
Volkswagen Fan Choice: Lewis Neal
Golden Boot: Luis Silva
Goal of the Year: Nick DeLeon
Defender of the Year: Bill Hamid
Coaches’ Award: Nick DeLeon
MLS W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian of the Year: Dwayne De Rosario
