Gonzalez voted as winner of MLS Defender of the Year

 　　HOUSTON, Nov. 9 (Xinhua)-- U.S. Major League Soccer (MLS) on Wednesday announced Los Angeles Galaxy¹'s center back Omar Gonzalez as the winner of MLS Defender² of the Year.

　　MLS said in a statement that Gonzalez beat out fellow finalists Jamison Olave, who collected the honor in 2010 and finished second this year, and Nat Borchers of Real Salt Lake to earn the award given to the league's top defender.

　　The year-end MLS award was voted by MLS players, general managers, coaches, referees³ and members of the media.

　　The 23-year-old Gonzalez garnered⁴ 33 percent of votes from MLS club management, 40 percent from media and 21 percent from MLS players to win the award by a wide margin⁵.

　　Gonzalez started 29 games at center back for Galaxy in 2011, his third-straight season as a starter after being drafted out of Maryland with the third pick in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft. He scored two goals and added an assist for the Galaxy while committing just 16 fouls⁶ in 2,599 minutes and collecting only three yellow cards.

　　MLS said Gonzalez had contributed a lot to Galaxy which posted the best defensive⁷ record in MLS in 2011, allowing 28 goals and posting a goals-against-average (0.82) that was the third lowest in MLS history. Their 17 regular-season shutouts also tied the MLS record set by Kansas City in 2000, when the Wizards won MLS Cup.

　　Gonzalez was awarded the MLS Rookie of the Year Award for his performances in the 2009 season, and named to the 2010 MLS All Star team. He continued his fine form in the 2011 MLS season, forming the heart of the Galaxy's league-best defense⁸, along with goalkeeper Josh Saunders.

　　Gonzalez has collected two caps with the U.S. National Team, making his debut⁹ in a friendly against Brazil on August 10, 2010. He played 90 minutes in central defense in that game, which was the National Team' s first since the end of the World Cup. He earned his second cap in January, starting and playing the opening 45 minutes in the 1-1 draw with Chile at The Home Depot¹⁰ Center.

　　As a youth, Gonzalez represented the U.S. at the Under-17 and Under-20 levels. In 2005 he played at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Peru, and in 2007 he played for the U.S. Under-20's at the Pan-American Games, scoring twice in the USA's 4-2 loss to Bolivia.

1 galaxy   

n.星系；银河系；一群(杰出或著名的人物)

参考例句：

• The earth is one of the planets in the Galaxy.地球是银河系中的星球之一。
• The company has a galaxy of talent.该公司拥有一批优秀的人才。

2 defender   

n.保卫者，拥护者，辩护人

参考例句：

• He shouldered off a defender and shot at goal.他用肩膀挡开防守队员，然后射门。
• The defender argued down the prosecutor at the court.辩护人在法庭上驳倒了起诉人。

3 referees   

n.裁判员( referee的名词复数 )；证明人；公断人；（专业性强的文章的）审阅人

参考例句：

• The fiery player has had numerous run-ins with referees. 这位脾气暴躁的队员曾和裁判员发生过无数次争吵。
• If you want to appeal, the Court of Referees will decide. 如果你要上诉，可以由仲裁法庭去判决。 来自辞典例句

4 garnered   

v.收集并（通常）贮藏（某物），取得，获得( garner的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Mr. Smith gradually garnered a national reputation as a financial expert. 史密斯先生逐渐赢得全国金融专家的声誉。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He has garnered extensive support for his proposals. 他的提议得到了广泛的支持。 来自辞典例句

5 margin   

n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘

参考例句：

• We allowed a margin of 20 minutes in catching the train.我们有20分钟的余地赶火车。
• The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。

6 fouls   

n.煤层尖灭；恶劣的( foul的名词复数 )；邪恶的；难闻的；下流的v.使污秽( foul的第三人称单数 )；弄脏；击球出界；（通常用废物）弄脏

参考例句：

• The player was sent off the field because of fouls. 这名运动员因屡屡犯规而被罚下场。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Jones was ordered off in the second half after repeated fouls. 由于屡次犯规，琼斯在下半场中被责令退出比赛。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 defensive   

adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的

参考例句：

• Their questions about the money put her on the defensive.他们问到钱的问题，使她警觉起来。
• The Government hastily organized defensive measures against the raids.政府急忙布置了防卫措施抵御空袭。

8 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

9 debut   

n.首次演出，初次露面

参考例句：

• That same year he made his Broadway debut, playing a suave radio journalist.在那同一年里，他初次在百老汇登台，扮演一个温文而雅的电台记者。
• The actress made her debut in the new comedy.这位演员在那出新喜剧中首次登台演出。

10 depot   

n.仓库，储藏处；公共汽车站；火车站

参考例句：

• The depot is only a few blocks from here.公共汽车站离这儿只有几个街区。
• They leased the building as a depot.他们租用这栋大楼作仓库。