VANCOUVER — Awards weren't on Tristan Blackmon's mind when he and the Vancouver Whitecaps headed into training camp in January.

The club had a new head coach and questions lingered over whether the 'Caps could build on last year's first-round playoff exit.

A stellar regular-season campaign for Blackmon and his teammates changed everything. On Tuesday, the 29-year-old American was named Major League Soccer's defender of the year.

"It wasn't something I wanted to check off at the beginning of the year," Blackmon said Wednesday. "But I think as a collective, the guys have helped me a lot, and we've all grown so much as a team. And you only get those awards if the team is really doing well. So all credit to the guys for helping me throughout the year.”

Playing in his eighth MLS season, the

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