Sjoberg, Howard, Mastroeni Nominated for MLS Awards

Rapids defender Axel Sjöberg, goalkeeper Tim Howard, and manager Pablo Mastroeni have been nominated by MLS for their end-of-year awards.

Sjöberg was nominated along with Matt Hedges and Jelle Van Damme for Defender of the Year. Tim Howard was nominated alongside Luis Robles and Andre Blake for Goalkeeper of the Year. Mastroeni was nominated alongside Jesse Marsh and Patrick Viera for Coach of the Year.

Sjöberg ended the MLS regular season second in the league in clearances with 159, seventh in blocks with 21, and twenty-sixth in interceptions with 75. He finished the year with 2 goals, 1 assist, and started in 31 of the Rapids 34 regular season games, and was second only to Sam Cronin in…