Parkhurst Tally Up for Goal of the Year

Two Twellman Strikes Also Nominated

October 26, 2007

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Revolution defender Michael Parkhurst's only career goal -- a 60-yard strike last Saturday in Toronto -- is among the 34 candidate for Major League's Soccer 2007 Sierra Mist Goal of the Year.

Parkhurst’s goal, which ESPN already anointed its “MLS Goal of the Year,” came on the central defenders’ first career shot.

Michael Parkhurst's only career goal is up for MLS Goal of the Year.

In first-half stoppage time on Saturday, Oct. 20, Parkhurst intercepted a Toronto pass in the midfield. From several yards behind the midfield line, Parkhurst launched the long-range shot that beat Toronto keeper Kenny Stamatopoulos on a line, giving New England a 1-0 lead.

The nominees, which also include two Taylor Twellman strikes, were released by the league Thursday.

Twellman's first nominated goal came from the Revs' April 29 victory at Dallas, when he scored a twisting 12-yard volley in the 1-0 win at Pizza Hut Park. His second goal up for the yearly award came on Sept. 9, a 15-yard left-footed volley after he tracked back several yards at D.C. in a 4-2 loss at RFK Stadium.

Fan voting is now open at MLSnet.com (http://web.mlsnet.com/mls/awards/2007/goal_of_the_year/), and will include three rounds of eliminations:

Week 1: Oct. 25-31 – Voting to select top 10 goals from original 34 nominees

Week 2: Nov. 1-7 – Voting to select top five goals

Week 3: Nov. 8-14 – Voting to select the 2007 Sierra Mist Goal of the Year from the top five goals

The Sierra Mist Goal of the Year will be announced on Nov. 16. The Revolution have never claimed a Sierra Mist Goal of the Year winner.

Previous Goal of the Year Winners:

2006: Brian Ching – Houston Dynamo vs. D.C. United – September 30, 2006

2005: Dwayne De Rosario – San Jose Earthquakes at Los Angeles Galaxy – October 15, 2005

2004: Dwayne De Rosario – San Jose Earthquakes vs. D.C. United – August 2, 2004

2003: Damani Ralph – Chicago Fire at Columbus Crew – August 13, 2003

2002: Carlos Ruiz – Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Columbus Crew – July 27, 2002

2001: Clint Mathis – MetroStars vs. Dallas Burn – April 28, 2001

2000: Marcelo Balboa – Colorado Rapids at Columbus Crew – April 22, 2000

1999: Marco Etcheverry – D.C. United at Miami Fusion – May 22, 1999

1998: Brian McBride – Columbus Crew vs. Chicago Fire – July 9, 1998

1997: Marco Etcheverry – D.C. United vs. New England Revolution – August 27, 1997

1996: Eric Wynalda – San Jose Earthquakes vs. D.C. United – April 6, 1996

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