MLS

• Galaxy defender Gonzalez wins MLS Rookie of the Year

  
  

  New York, NY (Sports Network) - Major League Soccer announced on Thursday that Los Angeles Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez has been named the rookie of the year.

  The 21-year-old out of Maryland started and played all 30 of the Galaxy's regular season games, helping the club's defense improve drastically from 2008 to 2009.

  The 6-foot-5, 210-pound former NCAA All-American was one of only 14 players in the League to play in all 30 regular season games and ranked second among rookies with 2,672 minutes played, behind only Darrius Barnes of the New England Revolution.

  Gonzalez is the second consecutive Galaxy defender to win the award after Sean Franklin last year.

  The voting was conducted by a polling of media, and MLS players, coaches and general managers.

  11/12 15:53:21 ET