Brandon Allen Receives USL Rookie of the Year Honors
NY Red Bulls forward Brandon Allen has received USL Rookie of the Year honors after recording 15 goals in the regular season and leading his side to its first title in club history. Allen joins teammates Aaron Long who was named USL Defender of the Year and John Wolyniec who received Coach of the Year honors.
Related Articles: NY Red Bulls II Crowned USL Cup Champions; USL Coach of the Year: John Wolyniec
USL Soccer News: The United Soccer League announced New York Red Bulls II forward Brandon Allen had been voted the 2016 USL Rookie of the Year after setting a league record for goals in a rookie season to lead his side to its first silverware in club history.
The 2016 USL Awards were voted on by team management and a league-wide media panel that included representation from every USL market. Voting was conducted following the conclusion of the 2016 USL regular season.
“Going into the USL I think I was confident, but I also wanted to prove myself,” said Allen. “Toward the end of the season, I was feeling better about the way things were going, and I think my game started to get even better as the season went on.”
Signed as a Homegrown Player by the New York Red Bulls after a exceptional career at Georgetown University, Allen recorded a brace in his professional debut for the Red Bulls II, and remained a constant threat throughout his first professional season as the side set a USL regular-season record for goals with 61.
Allen’s 15 goals in the regular season were the most by a rookie in the league’s history, and saw him finish tied for second in the USL behind fellow All-League First Team selection Sean Okoli.
The 23-year-old continued his form into the playoffs, where he led the league with six tallies as the Red Bulls II earned their first USL Cup. Allen was named USL Cup Most Valuable Player as he became the second player in history to record a hat trick in the championship game.
2016 USL Awards
Goalkeeper of the Year: Mitch Hildebrandt, FC Cincinnati
Defender of the Year: Aaron Long, New York Red Bulls II
Coach of the Year: John Wolyniec, New York Red Bulls II
Rookie of the Year: Brandon Allen, New York Red Bulls II
Most Valuable Player: Announced November 4
Check out the highlights of the USL Cup final below:
Photo Credit: United Soccer League
