M2 ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF 2017-2018 MAJOR AWARDS

Inaugural M2 Season wraps up honoring top performers

(April 2, 2018) – The Major Arena Soccer League 2 (MASL 2 or M2) announced the winners of their 2017-2018 Major Awards, including Most Valuable Player, Coach of the Year, Goalkeeper of the Year and Defender of the Year. The announcement was made at the inaugural M2 Cup Championships last weekend.

Most Valuable Player (MVP) 
Colorado Inferno’s Thomas Hoang put up impressive numbers all season long. His regular season stat line included leading the league in Goals (33), Points (43), Power Play Goals (5), Game Winning Goals (4) and Blocked Shots (15). He finished 2nd in Assists (10) and Points per Gams (3.6) all the while helping lead his Inferno teammates to the best record in the Western Conference at 8-4 and the highest scoring team in the entire M2 regular season. 

Coach of the Year 
Armando Gamboa is no stranger to the arena soccer game having his Chicago Mustangs team involved in numerous leagues over the last 10 years including the MASL just last season before moving to the M2. He put together a roster that was not only talented but committed to only one goal all season, win the M2 Cup. The result was the best overall record in the league at 10-2 with one of those losses coming in overtime. The team also boasted the best defense with only 61 goals against and goal differential of +53.

Goalkeeper of the Year 
Chicago Mustang’s Jesus Flores was the last line of defense for the top rated defensive team in the M2. He lead all categories for Goalkeepers including Goals Against Average (5.29), Save Percentage (.731) and Wins (9). His experience, leadership and presence was felt all season long in helping lead the team to the best defense and regular season record in the M2 at 10-2.

Defender of the Year 
The Arizona Impact may not have had an impact as a team in the standings in its inaugural campaign finishing at 3-9 in the Western Conference but it sure did have a player who made an impact when he was on the field. Matt Marcum lead all M2 Defenders in scoring this season with 12 Goals, 9 Assists and 21 Points. He also was 2nd in Blocks with 12 making him a true two-way threat from the defensive line. Not to be overlooked, he also played in 11 of the 12 games, scored 4 Power Play Goals (2nd in M2) and chipped in a Short Handed Goal.

For more information go to m2soccer.com and follow along on social media @m2arenasoccer.

## MASL 2 ##

ABOUT THE MAJOR ARENA SOCCER LEAGUE 2 (M2)

The MASL 2 was formed in 2017 and serves as the official developmental league of the Major Arena Soccer League. The M2 and MASL represent the highest level of arena soccer in the world, and combined feature 26 teams across North America, with teams playing coast-to-coast in the United States, Mexico and Canada (Toronto to begin play in 2018).