2005-06 MISL Goalkeeper of the Year - Brett Phillips
ST. LOUIS STEAMERS VETERAN WINS AWARD
FOLLOWING OUTSTANDING SEASON
WESTPORT, Conn. (Tuesday, May 23, 2006) – The Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) announced Tuesday afternoon that St. Louis Steamers goalkeeper Brett Phillips has been named the 2005-06 MISL Goalkeeper of the Year. The 37-year-old native of Tampa, Fla. who began his professional indoor soccer career with the 1992-93 season, had what was perhaps the finest season in 2005-06. Playing in 27 games during the Steamers’ 30-game regular season, Phillips compiled a 20-4 record, and maintained a league-low 4.65 goals against average.
Phillip helped direct a Steamers team that finished first in the MISL in scoring offense and first in the MISL in scoring defense en route to a 23-7 record during the regular season, and the 2006 MISL Regular Season Championship, winning that title by six games. The Steamers held postseason opponents to less than three goals in three of their first four games, before losing a tie-breaking “golden goal” session before 16,061 at Savvis Center on Sunday April, 30. The MISL Championship Series Final, won by the Baltimore Blast, was televised live by ESPN2.
On Monday Phillips received his second career All-League honor (1995-96). On Tuesday he reacted to winning the most prized individual award designated for MISL goalkeepers.
“It is always an honor to be recognized by the coaches, media and fans around the league,” Phillips said. “My success this season was directly related to the work of all of my teammates. I believe that of all of the MISL individual awards, the Goalkeeper of the Year award is the most reflective of the team.”
MISL postseason honors are awarded as a result of a formal voting process that polls members of the media, as well as MISL coaches and team personnel. Voters were asked to cast votes for first-place (worth five points), second-place (three points), and third-place (one point) for MISL Goalkeeper of the Year. Phillips’ name appeared on every ballot. He won by a wide margin, collecting better than 85 percent of the first-place votes.
“It would not be a stretch to say Brett has been one of the league’s strongest two goalkeepers the last few years, “ said St. Louis coach Omid Namazi. “He is an outstanding goalkeeper. He communicates with his players. He is probably the best goalkeeper in the league with his feet. Without him, executing our possession offense would be a lot harder. He makes it hard for teams to pressure us on defense. His positioning, his reading of the game … Brett is a huge reason for our success.”
(2005-06 MISL Statistics and Goalkeeper Rankings)
Brett Phillips
Games -- 27 (2nd)
Minutes -- 1483 (2nd)
Goals Against Average -- 4.65 (1st)
Record -- 20-4 (1st)
Save Pct. -- 66.0 (6th)
Shutouts -- 1 (1st)
About The MISL
The Major Indoor Soccer League is a single-entity organization with a coast-to-coast presence comprised of six teams located across the United States, and features the finest indoor soccer players representing 31 countries around the world. In February of 2004, the League announced an expansion team in Stockton, CA, that began play in 2005-06 as the California Cougars. In May of 2004, the League announced plans for an expansion team in Newark, NJ, that will begin play in 2007-08. In April of 2005, the League also approved an MISL expansion team for Detroit that will begin play as the Detroit Ignition in 2006-07. On Sunday, April 30, 2006, the MISL announced on ESPN2 that MISL Orlando had been approved to begin competition with the 2007-08 season. The 2006 MISL All-Star Game was played before a capacity crowd on February 11, 2006 at the U.S. Cellular Arena in Milwaukee. The 2006 MISL Championship Series began in Chicago on Saturday, April 15, 2006, and concluded live on ESPN2 and before a crowd of 16,061 at Savvis Center in St. Louis on Sunday, April 30, 2006, with the Baltimore Blast winning their third MISL Championship Series in four seasons. For more information on the MISL, visit the League’s official website www.MISL.net.