VANCOUVER — Three Vancouver Whitecaps have been shortlisted for Major League Soccer's end-of-season awards.
Jesper Sorensen is a candidate for coach of the year, Tristan Blackmon is a finalist for defender of the year and Yohei Takaoka is up for goalkeeper of the year.
Sorensen joined the Whitecaps in January and oversaw a historic regular season where the 'Caps finished second in the Western Conference with an 18-7-9 record, the most goals in the West (66) and the best goal differential in the league (+28).
Vancouver also stunned many in CONCACAF Champions Cup play, earning a spot in the final, and captured a fourth straight Canadian Championship title.
Blackmon was a key part of the team's back line, starting 23 of the 25 league games he appeared in, and contributing two goals and on