September 23, 2022 – MLS NEXT Pro (MLS NEXT Pro) – Columbus Crew 2 News Release
COLUMBUS – MLS NEXT Pro today announced the winners of three regular-season awards, honoring the best in the League’s inaugural season of play. Columbus Crew 2’s Laurent Courtois has been named Coach of the Year and goalkeeper Patrick Schulte has been awarded Goalkeeper of the Year. Schulte is joined by teammates defender Mo Farsi, midfielder Isaiah Parente and forward Jacen Russell-Rowe in the Best XI, which recognizes the league’s top players at each position.
LAURENT COURTOIS – MLS NEXT PRO COACH OF THE YEAR
In his first season at the helm, Courtois led Crew 2 to the best regular-season record (16-3-5, 55 points) in MLS NEXT Pro. Along the way, the team captured the Central Division Title and the Eastern Conference’s top seed in the upcoming MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs. Under his guidance, Columbus was first in the League in points, wins, goals for (55), goal differential (+40) and had the best record at home (11-1-0). The team also had the fewest losses and was tied for the fewest goals allowed (22). Courtois also saw Crew 2 players Jacen Russell-Rowe and Mo Farsi sign First Team contracts this summer.
Courtois was appointed to this position prior to the start of the season after most recently serving as the Under-19 head coach for the Crew Academy. He joined the Crew as the head coach for the Crew Academy’s U-17 team in 2019 before taking on the role with the U-19s in 2021.
Finalists for this award included Tacoma Defiance’s Wade Webber, Rochester New York FC’s Bruno Baltazar and St Louis CITY2’s John Hackworth.
PATRICK SCHULTE – GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR AND BEST XI
A member of Generation adidas, Schulte was selected in the first round (12th overall) by the Crew in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft from St. Louis University. In his rookie season with Crew 2, Schulte started 15 games, playing all 1,350 minutes and allowing just 15 total goals. His goals against average (1.0) and win percentage (66.7%) were the best in the league among goalkeepers who played in more than half their team’s matches. The 21-year-old’s 10 wins were tied for the most in MLS NEXT Pro and his seven clean sheets were second in the League.
Other finalists for Goalkeeper of the Year were Rochester New York FC’s Caique, Toronto FC II’s Luka Gavran, Philadelphia Union II’s Matthew Freese and North Texas SC’s Antonio Carrera.
MO FARSI – BEST XI
Farsi signed with Crew 2 on March 18 and made his debut in the season opening…
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