Posted on: Saturday, November 13, 2004

SOCCER
Ching earns comeback award

Associated Press

CARSON, Calif. — Robin Fraser of the Columbus Crew was selected yesterday as Major League Soccer's top defender of 2004, and San Jose Earthquakes forward Brian Ching was picked as the comeback player of the year.

Other award winners announced were rookie of the year Clint Dempsey of the New England Revolution and Joe Cannon of the Colorado Rapids as the league's top goalkeeper.

Greg Andrulis, who guided Columbus to a 12-5-13 record that included a league-record 18-match unbeaten streak to finish the regular season, was chosen as coach of the year.

Ching, a Kamehameha Schools alum from Hawai'i, returned after a ruptured Achilles' tendon sidelined him the last half of the 2003 season He was tied Eddie Johnson of Dallas for the league lead in goals with 12.

The 37-year-old Fraser, who won the defender honor in 1999 with Los Angeles, helped Columbus finish second in the league in goals allowed with 32. The Crew also recorded 10 shutouts.

Dempsey, who edged Chad Marshall of Columbus and Freddy Adu of D.C. United for the rookie award, had seven goals and one assist.