Montero Wins Top MLS Newcomer; Thornton Comeback Player Of The Year

Fredy Montero was today awarded as Major League Soccer’s top newcomer, while Zach Thornton was named the Comeback Player of the Year.

Montero, 22, joined the Seattle Sounders from Deportivo Cali on loan and made 27 appearances for the expansion club, scoring 12 goals in the process.

His play helped the Sounders reach the playoffs in their first year in the league, where they were eventually knocked out by the Houston Dynamo in the Western Conference semifinals. He also made the 2009 MLS All-Star Team.

Thornton has been quite the revelation since joining Chivas USA and was recently recognized as the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, as he posted a 13-11-6 record, with a career-high 12 shut outs.

His 0.87 goals against average was the second best all time following the 0.82 mark Houston Dynamo keeper Pat Onstad posted in 2007. A native of Edgewood, Maryland, Thornton beat out Chicago Fire forward Brian McBride and D.C. United midfielder Ben Olson to the award.

Shane Evans, Goal.com

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