The United Soccer League announced the finalists for the 2016 USL Awards, which will be announced during USL Awards Week between Monday, Oct. 31 and Friday, Nov. 4. New York Red Bulls II has been nominated for four out of five awards, including Most Valuable Player, Coach of the Year, Defender of the Year and Rookie of the Year.
New York Red Bulls II’s Aaron Long has been nominated for Defender of the Year, which will be announced on Tuesday, November 1. The 2016 USL Awards were voted on by team management and a league-wide media panel that included representation from every USL market.
Long led a NYRB II defense which totaled 16 clean sheets and allowed a league-low 21 goals in 30 games this season. Long’s defense also enabled the goalkeepers to face an overall lower quality of shots, as New York finished with the highest save percentage (.806) in the USL.
In the first game of the 2016 USL Playoffs, the center back scored two goals to lead the team on to the Semifinals, which matched the two goals he scored throughout the regular season. Additionally, he buried both of his penalty kick opportunities in the club’s two playoff shootouts in the Conference Semifinals and Finals.
Long logged the most minutes in the playoffs, playing every minute for New York. He led New York’s back line in the USL Cup Final, limiting a strong Swope Park team to just one free-kick goal.
The Oak Hills, Calif. native also made an impact with the New York Red Bulls in CONCACAF Champions League. Long started and played three CCL games with the MLS side, helping the club win the group and move onto the quarterfinals. In the midst of his impressive displays in Champions League, Long was loaned from NYRB II to the Red Bulls and has played with both clubs since.
