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Sporting Kansas City's Tim Melia was named MLS Goalkeeper of the Year after running away with the vote. Melia earned over 50 percent of the votes from all three groups -- players, media and club staff -- easily outpacing fellow finalists Andre Blake of the Philadelphia Union and Stefan Frei of the Seattle Sounders. The 31-year-old led MLS with both a 0.78 goals-against average and a 78.4 save percentage, while also helping his club win the U.S. Open Cup for the second time in three years. He kept 10 clean sheets with 91 saves in MLS play. "Winning an award like this is one of the best compliments you can get as a goalkeeper," Melia said in a statement. "It's a huge individual accolade, and it's one that is only possible because of the efforts of my teammates and my coaches. To gain this recognition is an incredible honor." Sporting KC suffered mightily late in the season after Melia was sidelined by a hamstring injury, earning just one point over their final three games and losing to Houston in the playoff knockout round. Melia is in his eighth season as an MLS player, though he only played sparingly before getting his chance to start after signing with Kansas City before the 2015 season, when he won comeback player of the year. Sporting KC allowed and MLS-low 29 goals this season, and center-back Ike Opara was named MLS Defender of the Year last week.
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