The Houston Dash announced their 2019 club award winners today, with three-year veteran Jane Campbell earning Most Valuable Player and Playersâ Player of the Year honors.
Players, staff, local media and fans voted on four categories that recognized achievements on and off the field.
Team co-captain Amber Brooks was voted as the Defensive Player of the Year, midfielder Christine Nairn earned Newcomer of the Year honors and midfielder Haley Hanson was named the teamâs Young Player of the Year.
Campbell earned the Most Valuable Player Award after setting a new career-high for clean sheets with six and playing every minute of every game this season. The 24-year old logged 2160 minutes in 24 games and was voted by her teammates as the Playersâ Player of the Year for the second consecutive year after finishing with 71 saves. Campbell has received a total of four honors since joining the club, last year the goalkeeper was voted the Playersâ Player of the Year and named the Unsung Hero in 2017.
Brooks finished the 2019 NWSL season as the teamâs ironwoman and was the first NWSL player to play every minute of every game for three full seasons. The co-captain, who reached 6,393 minutes in those three seasons, was voted the 2019 Defensive Player of the year, after another commanding season in the backline and leading the club to six clean sheets. Brooks, who scored the game-winning goal on July 20 against the Washington Spirit, earned her third club honor having won Defensive Player of the Year in 2018 and Most Valuable Player in 2017.
Nairnâs experience brought a new dimension to the club throughout the season as the midfielder earned 19 starts in 22 appearances for Houston. The midfielder was voted the Newcomer of the Year, tallying one crucial goal against Reign FC on June 2 and two assists. The veteran also reached her 150thleague cap this season, becoming the first NWSL player to reach that milestone.
The Young Player of the Year was awarded to Hanson, who played in every game this season, tallying 21 starts. Hansonâs versatility helped the team succeed in the backline, although the 23-year old started the season playing in the midfield. Adjusting quickly, the Kansas-native became the clubâs right-back, helping the team earn five clean sheets. During the season, Hanson was called up to the U-23 U.S. Womenâs National Team in August, receiving the captainâs band for the first time in her career. Wearing the band, she led the U.S. to the Nordic Cup title defeating England, Norway and Sweden.
2019 Houston Dash Award Winners
Most Valuable Player: Jane Campbell
Playerâs Player of the Year: Jane Campbell
Defensive Player of the Year: Amber Brooks
Newcomer of the Year: Christine Nairn
Young Player of the Year: Haley Hanson
