SAN JOSE, Calif. – San Jose Earthquakes and US National Team forward Chris Wondolowski has been nominated for an ESPY in the Best MLS Player category after his meteoric rise to become the top goal scorer in the league over the last two seasons.
In 2010, Wondolowski won the Budweiser Golden Boot and was a finalist for the Volkswagen MVP award. The Danville, Calif. native’s career-high 18 goals in 28 games played helped the Earthquakes to their first playoff appearance since the team rejoined MLS in 2008. Wondolowski trailed Los Angeles Galaxy forward Edson Buddle in the Golden Boot race by six goals (14-8) with eight games to play (through games on September 11). Wondolowski was the first player to win an MLS goal-scoring title, either jointly or outright, by erasing a deficit of five or more goals in his last 10 games. He was also the first player in San Jose franchise history to win the award.
Wondolowski also scored more meaningful goals than any other player in MLS last season, leading the league with nine game winners. In the heat of the playoff chase from Sept. 15 to Oct. 23, he scored all 10 of San Jose’s goals, setting the all-time MLS record for the most consecutive goals scored by one player. Over the course of the season, Wondolowski accounted for 52.9 percent (18 of 34) of the Earthquakes’ goals, the second highest such percentage all-time in MLS history.
San Jose’s star has continued his success in 2011. Despite time in June due to US National Team duty for the CONCACAF Gold Cup, Wondolowski is tied for No. 4 in MLS with six goals. He has played in fewer games than any other player in the top five.
Others nominated for Best MLS Player include Edson Buddle, formerly of the LA Galaxy, Landon Donovan of the LA Galaxy and David Ferreira of FC Dallas.
Voting for Best MLS Player is underway at www.espn.com/espy. Fans can also vote at www.facebook.com/espn. The award show will air live at 6 p.m. PT on Wednesday, July 13 from the Nokia Theater in Downtown Los Angeles with host Seth Meyers.
