Seattle Sounders Retiring Captain Kasey Keller Wins MLS Goalkeeper Of The Year

At the end of his playing career, Kasey Keller has notched yet another honor; the retiring Seattle Sounders captain has been named the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year. The voting was not especially close; Keller's weighted total of 73.97 was well ahead of runner-up Faryd Mondragon of the Philadelphia Union who clocked in at 49.75 and the former Sounder swept all three voting blocs (media, players and club front-office personell.)

Keller's final year in MLS was arguably his best, the 41-year-old US National Team legend seemingly determined to go out on a high note. The season may not have ended the way he would of like, but it's difficult to fault Keller for that. His consistently excellent performances all season long made up for quite a few shaky moments from the Sounders defense. It's not much of a stretch to think that without Keller in goal, the Sounders would have finished far lower than third in terms of goals allowed and likely far lower in general.

Keller's award marks the second time a Sounders player has taken home a major honor; Fredy Montero won MLS Newcomer of the Year in 2009, an award for which Keller (as well as midfielder Freddie Ljungberg) was also nominated. Midfielder Mauro Rosales has the opportunity to become the second Sounder to take home that award when it is announced later this afternoon.