Crow Is Named MSL Defender of Year--Again

In a league designed for and stressing offensive skill, Socker Kevin Crow seems to have cornered the market on defense.

Crow, an eight-year veteran of indoor soccer, was named the MSL’s Jolly Rancher Defender of the Year on Tuesday. It was the fourth time in his seven MSL seasons he has received the award.

“I’m delighted to win the award,” he said in a prepared statement. “But I have to give credit to (first-year defenders) Ben Collins, David Banks and Alex Golovnia. Had they not picked up the system as fast as they did, I wouldn’t have been able to concentrate on my own play.”

While Crow shared the credit with his teammates, goalie Victor Nogueira was placing it back on Crow’s shoulders.

“He’s really important because he’s a stabilizer,” Nogueira said. “He’s consistent and you can always depend on him. For as many games as we play in a season (52 plus playoff games), Kevin will make only three mistakes all season. And that’s unbelievable for a player to be that consistent.”

Backed by the steadying force of both Crow and Nogueira, the Sockers allowed a league-low 250 goals during the regular season. That helped them finish 34-18, the league’s best record.

For the sixth time in the past seven years, Crow led the team in blocked shots with 106, finishing fourth in the league. Earlier this season, Crow became the third player in indoor soccer history to register 700 blocks in a career.

Perhaps most striking, however, is the fact that Crow played a part in two Socker shutouts this season. They were the ninth and 10th of his career, most of any player in the league.