Matt Hedges wins MLS Defender of the Year award
Center-back Matt Hedges has been named the 2016 MLS Defender of the Year, after he and his defensive ranks held firm to help FC Dallas claim multiple pieces of hardware this season.
Hedges, 26, is the first Dallas player to capture the annual award, narrowly topping LA Galaxy standout Jelle Van Damme in a three-part vote between players, media, and clubs.
| Player | Player Vote % | Media Vote % | Club Vote % | Avg. % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Hedges (FCD) | 21.77 | 19.81 | 31.58 | 24.39 |
| Jelle Van Damme (LA) | 19.73 | 16.98 | 25.00 | 20.57 |
| Axel Sjoberg (COL) | 6.80 | 28.30 | 15.79 | 16.96 |
| Walker Zimmerman (FCD) | 7.48 | 12.26 | 6.58 | 8.78 |
| Steve Birnbaum (DC) | 10.20 | 3.77 | 3.95 | 5.97 |
Hedges' center-back partner Walker Zimmerman finished fourth in the voting, as the Toros' duo were honored for a stellar campaign that saw Dallas win both the Supporters' Shield and the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Dallas became the first MLS side to record back-to-back 60-point seasons and to qualify for a second straight CONCACAF Champions League appearance.
Despite a brilliant regular season, Oscar Pareja's lot ran out of luck in the Western Conference semifinals against an attack-minded Seattle Sounders side, as the first-ranked squad failed to recover from an injury to playmaker Mauro Diaz.
Here's why: https://t.co/d7eaMs4c9c
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) November 11, 2016
Drafted 11th overall by Dallas in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft, the once-capped American international made 26 appearances for the club this season, with the Toros conceding just 23 times during that spell. Dallas recorded 11 of its 12 clean sheets with Hedges in the lineup.
In each of his five seasons with Dallas, Hedges has logged no fewer than 2,000 minutes, and was the runner-up to Montreal's Laurent Ciman for the award last season.