CARY, N.C. (October 18, 2018) – North Carolina FC has announced 2018 team awards as voted on by teammates and technical staff. North Carolina FC has named the Team MVP, Offensive MVP, Defensive MVP, Leadership Award, Summit Hospitality Community Service Award and the Select Physical Therapy Comeback Player of the Year Award.
Daniel Rios was named the Team MVP and Offensive MVP following a season where he netted 20 goals and added four assists. The number tied the club record for most goals in a single season, previously set by Etienne Barbara in 2011. The loanee from Chivas Guadalajara also totaled 2,221 minutes in 31 games played.
Aaron Guillen earned the Defensive MVP award following a breakout season on the backline. After earning a spot in the starting lineup, the young defender was a mainstay in the back. He totaled 2,181 minutes in 26 appearances. The El Paso, Texas, native also added 95 clearances, 46 interceptions, 26 won tackles, 100 won duels and a team-high 16 blocked shots.
Fellow defender and team co-captain Connor Tobin earned the club’s Leadership Award.The center back was a team leader on and off the field. In addition to sharing captain duties with Austin da Luz, Tobin has always been a key leader for the club in community involvement and fan engagement. Tobin helped anchor the backline and logged 1,845 minutes in 21 appearances.
In addition, Tobin was also selected as the Select Physical Therapy Comeback Player of the Year. After missing the opening stretch of the season with a right calf strain, Tobin worked his way back on the field. He recorded 96 won duels, 85 clearances, 37 interceptions, 16 won tackles, 12 blocked shots and one goal.
The Summit Hospitality Community Service Award went to Tobin and da Luz for the second-straight season. The co-recipients went beyond the required effort and were pillars in the community all season long. Each player finished top-three on the team in appearances, along with team leader Steven Miller. Additionally, each player once again captained their own respective charity efforts.
Tobin helped orchestrate another successful season of the Oak City Classic at Raleighwood, which raised money for local nonprofits Oak City Soccer and Neighbor to Neighbor. The event surpassed its 2017 totals and rallied 176 participants together and more than tripled its contributions to local charities.
Da Luz’s Playing For Pride campaign also reached new heights with unprecedented growth. While partnering with Athlete Ally, da Luz saw a significant increase in participation as more than 110 soccer players and countless fans joined in to raise nearly $25,000 for LGBTQ rights in the month of June.
North Carolina FC has wrapped up its 2018 season. The team finished the year as Southern Derby Cup Champions and will turn its focus to building the foundation for a successful season in 2019.
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CARY, N.C. (October 18, 2018) – North Carolina FC has announced 2018 team awards as voted on by teammates and technical staff. North Carolina FC has named the Team MVP, Offensive MVP, Defensive MVP, Leadership Award, Summit Hospitality Community Service Award and the Select Physical Therapy Comeback Player of the Year Award.
Daniel Rios was named the Team MVP and Offensive MVP following a season where he netted 20 goals and added four assists. The number tied the club record for most goals in a single season, previously set by Etienne Barbara in 2011. The loanee from Chivas Guadalajara also totaled 2,221 minutes in 31 games played.
Aaron Guillen earned the Defensive MVP award following a breakout season on the backline. After earning a spot in the starting lineup, the young defender was a mainstay in the back. He totaled 2,181 minutes in 26 appearances. The El Paso, Texas, native also added 95 clearances, 46 interceptions, 26 won tackles, 100 won duels and a team-high 16 blocked shots.
Fellow defender and team co-captain Connor Tobin earned the club’s Leadership Award.The center back was a team leader on and off the field. In addition to sharing captain duties with Austin da Luz, Tobin has always been a key leader for the club in community involvement and fan engagement. Tobin helped anchor the backline and logged 1,845 minutes in 21 appearances.
In addition, Tobin was also selected as the Select Physical Therapy Comeback Player of the Year. After missing the opening stretch of the season with a right calf strain, Tobin worked his way back on the field. He recorded 96 won duels, 85 clearances, 37 interceptions, 16 won tackles, 12 blocked shots and one goal.
The Summit Hospitality Community Service Award went to Tobin and da Luz for the second-straight season. The co-recipients went beyond the required effort and were pillars in the community all season long. Each player finished top-three on the team in appearances, along with team leader Steven Miller. Additionally, each player once again captained their own respective charity efforts.
Tobin helped orchestrate another successful season of the Oak City Classic at Raleighwood, which raised money for local nonprofits Oak City Soccer and Neighbor to Neighbor. The event surpassed its 2017 totals and rallied 176 participants together and more than tripled its contributions to local charities.
Da Luz’s Playing For Pride campaign also reached new heights with unprecedented growth. While partnering with Athlete Ally, da Luz saw a significant increase in participation as more than 110 soccer players and countless fans joined in to raise nearly $25,000 for LGBTQ rights in the month of June.
North Carolina FC has wrapped up its 2018 season. The team finished the year as Southern Derby Cup Champions and will turn its focus to building the foundation for a successful season in 2019.
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