The club also handed out individual honours to defender Gabriel Gervais, who was named Defensive Player of the Year, to goalkeeper Andrew Weber, who received the Unsung Hero award, and to midfielder Leonardo Di Lorenzo, who was recipient of the Newcomer of the Year award.
MAURICIO VINCELLO: MOST VALUABLE PLAYER (GIUSEPPE-SAPUTO TROPHY)
• In his third season with the Impact, his seventh in the USL First Division, this 29-year-old defender played 24 of 28 regular-season games, a club high among the team’s defenders tied with Adam Braz, and distinguished himself by his versatility, playing both as a central and lateral defender.
• Helped the Impact post the best defense in the league for a fourth straight year, allowing only 15 goals in 28 games, a team record first set in 2004 and tied for the first time last year.
• Also helped the Impact collect 16 shutouts in 28 games, the second best total in club history tied with last year’s, and three behind the league record of 19 set in 2004 by Montreal.
• Helped Montreal register 10 shutouts at home, tying a club record, and allow only four goals at home, a new club record.
• Tallied one goal and one assist over the regular season. His goal tied the score in injury time and allowed the Impact to collect a 1-1 draw against the Vancouver Whitecaps, July 7 in Montreal, and to stay in the thick of the race for first place overall.
• Was a starter for the USL All-Star Team that played English club Sheffield Wednesday to a 0-0 draw, July 19 in Cary, North Carolina.
• Earned his 50th career start with the Impact May 13 in Charleston, and reached the 5,000 career minutes played mark with Montreal, June 24 in Rochester against the Rhinos.
• Won the Impact’s Unsung Hero award last year, and was proclaimed, in 2001 with the Lynx, Toronto Defensive Player of the Year.
• Head coach Nick De Santis: “Mauricio showed a lot of continuity and versatility all season long. He is an underestimated player for the services he gives us. He was essential to the team’s success this year.”
GABRIEL GERVAIS: DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
• In his fifth season with the Impact, his seventh in the USL First Division, this 30-year-old defender helped the Impact post the best defense in the league for a fourth straight year, allowing only 15 goals in 28 games, a team record first set in 2004 and tied for the first time last year.
• Was proclaimed USL D1 Defender of the Year for the third time in his career (2003, 2004 and 2006).
• Was picked, at the end of the regular season, on the USL D1 First All-League Team. Became the 10th player in league history, and the second Impact player, after Mauro Biello, to be selected for the fifth time.
• Was a starter for the USL All-Star Team that played English club Sheffield Wednesday to a 0-0 draw, July 19 in Cary, North Carolina.
• Became, June 24 in Rochester, the 7th player in Impact history to reach the 10,000 career minutes played mark with Montreal.
• Head coach Nick De Santis: “Gabriel was once again a team leader. He had a lot of responsibilities on his shoulders and he responded very well. He proved that he is a very stable player by playing with the same high level intensity again this season. He’s an important part of the team.”
ANDREW WEBER: UNSUNG HERO AWARD
• This 23-year-old goalkeeper joined the Impact after spending the 2005 season as DC United’s third-string goalkeeper in Major League Soccer.
• Taking over for Greg Sutton, who suffered a fractured index finger, earned his first career start in the USL First Division on June 11 in Toronto against the Lynx. Picked up the shutout in a 1-0 win.
• From June 11 to August 6, played 14 straight games in Sutton’s absence, posting a 8-1-5 record with a 0.571 GAA and seven shutouts.
• Remained undefeated in his first nine games (6-0-3) with the Impact, registering six shutouts along the way.
• His two shutouts and three wins over a single week against Toronto, Seattle and Vancouver, from July 11 to 16, allowed the Impact to take over sole possession of first place overall and earned him a spot on the USL D1 Team of the Week.
• His 0.571 GAA was second-best in the league, behind his teammate Greg Sutton (0.50).
• In spite of his limited playing time, his seven shutouts gave him fifth place in the league and his eight wins, seventh place.
• Head coach Nick De Santis: “Andrew integrated the line-up quickly. He played some good games against tough teams. He had a good sequence which gave confidence to himself and to his teammates.”
LEONARDO DI LORENZO: NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
• Recruited in Argentina by the Impact over the winter, this 25-year-old midfielder was making his North American debut this season.
• Played in 19 games and spent 1,427 minutes on the field in regular-season action, making him the busiest Impact player among those into their first USL First Division season.
• Scored two goals and collected six assists for 10 points, the second highest total among Impact players after Mauricio Salles (19 points).
• His six assists gave him fourth place in the USL D1 among the league’s playmakers.
• Four of his six assists led to a game-winning goal and the other two to equalizers, while his game-winning goal scored August 31 in Portland, in a 1-0 victory over the Timbers, allowed the Impact to clinch at least second place and a bye into the semi-final playoff round.
• Took 28 shots on net, the third highest total on the team after Mauricio Salles (58) and Mauro Biello (51).
• Was picked on the USL D1 Second All-League Team following the regular season.
• Head coach Nick De Santis: “In the first games he played we saw that he was a special player. He offered us exciting soccer by his creativity up front and by provoking the opponent’s defense. It wasn’t easy for him because he had to adapt to a new lifestyle, a new system and a hectic calendar.”
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Source: Patrick Vallée, Montreal Impact
Info: 514-328-3668 (ext. 27)
