Ralston Named Team MVP

Club Announcs Team Awards Before Last Game

October 27, 2008

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. � Captain Steve Ralston was named 2008 Revolution Team MVP in an announcement made by the team in a pregame ceremony before the Revs� regular-season finale against Kansas City.

Defender Michael Parkhurst won Defender of the Year, while forward Adam Cristman was named the team�s U.S. Soccer Foundation Humanitarian of the Year.

Steve Ralston (right) was named the Revs' team MVP. (Photo credit: Joyce Furia)

Also on Saturday, goalkeeper Matt Reis was presented with the Revere Cup, signifying him as the Midnight Riders� Man of the Year. The Midnight Riders is one of the Revolution�s independent supporters groups.

Ralston, 34, is in his seventh season with the Revs and his 13th overall in MLS. Entering the final weekend of play, he shared the team lead in goals with eight and had a team-high seven assists. His eight goals mark a single-season career high for the midfielder. Ralston appeared in just 21 games this season while missing nine with various injuries. He earned his seventh career MLS All-Star nod this summer and was a candidate for MLS Most Valuable Player before suffering a broken leg in the team�s match on Oct. 11. This is his second Revolution MVP award, having also been so honored in 2004.

Parkhurst, 24, is in his fourth season with the Revolution, and has set a new standard for defenders in his young professional career. Entering the weekend, the center back has committed just eight fouls in 27 games while also missing time with the team while playing with the U.S. Olympic Team in Beijing. The Cranston, R.I., product is the defending MLS Visa Defender of the Year and is a candidate for the 2008 award. This is his third Revolution defender of the year award, having also won in 2005 and 2007.

Cristman, 23, is in his second season with the Revolution and won his first team award. Cristman has dedicated much of his free time to youth soccer and community appearances. Earlier this year, he donated a block of tickets to a local middle school to encourage children to engage in after-school reading. He is also a frequent coach at soccer clinics in the region. Last year, in his first season in the league, Cristman was one of three finalists for the 2007 Gatorade Rookie of the Year award.

The Revolution Budweiser Golden Boot, presented to the team�s top goal scorer, was not presented as both Ralston and Taylor Twellman entered the game tied for the team lead in goals with eight.

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