SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes today announced their 2018 club award winners, which includes forward Danny Hoesen as Most Valuable Player, defender Nick Lima as Defensive Player of the Year and goalkeeper Matt Bersano for the Andrew Bedard Spirit of the Game Award/Humanitarian of the Year. These awards recognize players that have made a positive impact with the Quakes, both on and off the pitch.
The players will be given their respective awards at tonight’s Wine and Dine with the Earthquakes event at Boulder Ridge Golf Club in San Jose.
The Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year winners were selected through a voting process, with the local media, players and technical staff each receiving a one-third weight. The Earthquakes community relations department selected the winner of the Andrew Bedard Spirit of the Game Award/Humanitarian of the Year based on contributions throughout the season.
Hoesen receives his first MVP award in just his second season with the club. He has scored a team-high 12 goals this season, including a pair of game-winners, while appearing in all 32 matches to date. His four assists are tied for third most on the squad.
Upon scoring his 10th goal of the season on June 23 against Real Salt Lake, he became the first Earthquakes player other than Chris Wondolowski to reach a double-digit goal total since Alan Gordon (13) and Steven Lenhart (10) in 2012. Hoesen also became just the second player other than Wondolowski to tally at least 12 goals and four assists in a single season since 2004.
His selection snaps a streak of four consecutive years the award was given to Wondolowski, who previously received recognition in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.
Lima earned the 2018 Defensive Player of the Year award in his second season as a professional after signing as a Homegrown Player last year. Lima is the only Earthquakes player to start all 32 games to date, playing a team-high 2,869 minutes and tallying two goals and two assists.
Lima’s 20 fouls conceded this season are the ninth fewest in MLS among all players with at least 2,500 minutes. He also played the full 90 minutes in 31 of 32 games to date.
Goalkeeper Matt Bersano has earned the Andrew Bedard Spirt of the Game Award after being a consistent advocate for social causes, primarily on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community, during the 2018 season. He has promoted causes including “the #5 jersey” that advocates for basic human rights and has recently been welcomed as an ambassador by AthleteAlly. He is also a big supporter of the Austen Everett Foundation, who the Quakes partner with on pediatric cancer initiatives.
The award is named for Andrew Bedard, a young Earthquakes fan who passed away at eight years old in 2004. The Andrew Bedard Spirit of the Game Award will be presented annually to the Earthquakes player that works hard in the community and best embodies Andrew’s positive attitude both on and off the field. For more information on the Andrew Bedard Spirit of the Game Award, please visit www.sjearthquakes.com/spiritofthegame/award.
