First of all, thank you to all the coaches who took the time to submit a nominee for this honor.  We appreciate how difficult a task it is to pick just one player from your team that stands above the rest.  Our Mt Tabor Soccer Club (MTSC) board members voted after Soccerfest and it was a very close vote from a list of players who were all worthy.

Our 1st ever MTSC Portland Timbers Adopt a Club Most Outstanding Player is:

Isabel Leonard  

Isabel has played for the MTSC Renegades since U7. Isabelle will play her final MTSC season this Fall with the U14B Renegades.  Isabel has always played on a boy’s teams and posseses the finest attributes from both the girls'  and boys' game.  She is a complete player who creates success for her team and the individual team members. This is demonstrated by her ability to help the team control possession of the ball, her willingness to generously pass the ball to any level of player, and her complete coverage of the field.

In addition to her on field leadership Isabel contributes positively to her community. She is a successful honor roll student at Mt.Tabor Middle School. Recently certified as a Red Cross babysitter. Isabel is trusted by many parents in her neighborhood to care for their children. She has also volunteered at Franklin High School fundraisers for the cross country and soccer teams. Isabel also recently had success in youth track and field competitions, winning the 800-meter race at the youth state track meet on Hayward Field at the University of Oregon.

Isabel will be a stand out player when she plays high school soccer for a girls team for the 1st time at Franklin in the Fall of 2012.  

For this distinction Isabelle will receive a Timbers jersey and 4 tickets for her family to attend the August 24th Timbers game vs Chivas USA.  During that game she will be honored at half time along with the 5 nominees from the other Adopt a Club participants.

Our 1st ever MTSC Portland Timbers Adopt a Club Most Outstanding Player Runner Up is:

Vincent Weed

Vincent has played for MTSC since U7 as well.  Vincent plays for the U14B Storm and will be playing his final MTSC season this Fall.  Vincent plays on one of those rare recreational teams that have survived the years of attrition to other sports and competitive soccer.  Therefore picking one player as “most outstanding”  was very difficult because many players on this unique team are deserving of this honor. 

Vincent had at least one assist in every game in the Fall of 2011 in addition to his 7 goals.  The greatest assist of his career came when Vincent had a break away and made a nice move causing the goalie to dive prematurely leaving an open goal.  Instead of tapping it in himself, Vincent stepped around the goalie, moved further toward the sideline, and made a beautiful cross to a player who then scored his 1st goal ever.  After that goal, a “light switch” was turned on in that player. That player played harder the rest of the fall and spring seasons than he ever did before. Instead of quitting soccer (as he had threatened) this player is now going to soccer camps, studying matches on TV, and continues to improve his game thanks to Vincent's leadership and generosity. 

Vincent has a passion for soccer, he is always positive and shows up to practices ready to play.  For this honor, Vincent will be awarded a Portland Timbers Primary Green Replica jersey provided by MTSC.