Galaxy’s Omar Gonzalez finishes third in voting for MLS top defender

The Galaxy’s Omar Gonzalez was good enough to start for the U.S. in the World Cup but apparently that doesn’t make him the best defender in Major League Soccer.

That award went to Seattle’s Chad Marshall on Tuesday.

The Sounders’ imposing center back was named winner of the league’s Defender of the Year award for the third time, based on balloting from MLS clubs, players and media. Bobby Boswell of DC United was second ahead of Gonzalez, who won the award in 2011.

Marshall, who attended Riverside’s Rubidoux High, was the league’s top defender in 2008 and 2009 when he played for the Columbus Crew.

Two other award winners were also announced Tuesday, with Mark Geiger earning his second Referee of the Year award and Paul Scott winning the assistant referee honor.

In addition to his work in MLS, Geiger impressed in the World Cup, becoming the first American to referee a knockout-round game when he worked the France-Nigeria match in Brazil. Geiger, the 2011 honoree, won this year’s MLS award in a landslide over Jair Marrufo

Scott was also a comfortable winner in the assistant referee voting.