FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Eight New England Revolution players are among those on the fan ballot for the 2014 MLS All-Star game, which the league revealed today. The Revolution players on the fan ballot include: Teal Bunbury, Diego Fagundez, Andrew Farrell, Jose Goncalves, Patrick Mullins, Lee Nguyen, Bobby Shuttleworth and A.J. Soares.
The MLS All-Star Game will be played against German titan Bayern Munich on Wednesday, Aug. 6, at Providence Park in Portland, Ore.
Media members nominated eight players from each team to the fan ballot. Fans may vote online at mlssoccer.com through 3 p.m. ET on July 11, and via Twitter from July 2-6. A total of 11 players – one goalkeeper, three defenders, four midfielders and three forwards – with the highest combined votes will be named to the All-Star Fan XI.
Portland head coach Caleb Porter will coach the MLS All-Stars and will choose the game day roster and the starting lineup that will face Bayern Munich. MLS’ mid-season marquee event will be broadcast live on ESPN2, UniMas, and in Canada on TSN and RDS, starting at 9:30 p.m. ET.
Revolution Fan Ballot All-Star Nominees
- Teal Bunbury is in his first season with the Revolution and his fifth pro season overall. After joining the Revs via trade in February from Sporting Kansas City, Bunbury has become an integral part of the dynamic New England attack. After shifting from a typical target forward position to an off-wing position, Bunbury has scored two goals and added three assists in the last five games. His three assists in just 12 games has already matched his previous single-season best in Kansas City.
- Diego Fagundez emerged as one of MLS’ top young talents in 2013, and he’s furthering that reputation this year. The team’s first-ever Homegrown player – from Leominster, Mass. – has scored four goals and added three assists so far this season. One of the league’s most exciting players, Fagundez has emerged as one of the team’s top talents. Just 19 years old, Fagundez is already the top scoring teenager in league history, and his 20 career goals rank ninth in club history.
- Andrew Farrell is enjoying a break-out sophomore campaign in 2014. After the Revolution selected him with the first overall selection in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft, the Louisville, Ky., product started at right back in all 32 games he played last year. This season, he’s split time between right back and center back with the Revs posting an 0.91 goals against average with him on the field this year. Since Farrell joined the team, the Revolution has posted 18 shutouts in 46 games.
- Jose Goncalves is the reigning MLS defender of the year after taking the league by storm in his first season last year. The imposing center back helped the Revs post record defensive numbers in 2013 – including a club record 14 shutouts and a 1.12 goals against average, the second-best mark in club history and its best since 2006. Leading MLS with 28 shields (shepherding the ball out of bounds while holding off a defender, the next closest player had nine), Goncalves was a key part in the team’s return to the playoffs for the first time since 2009.
- Patrick Mullins is one of the league’s top rookies this season and has helped lead the Revs to the top of the Eastern Conference at this point in the season. Drafted 11th overall by the Revs this season – following a stellar four-year career at Maryland, highlighted by back-to-back national player of the year awards in 2012 and 2013 – Mullins is only the second rookie in league history to score goals in four straight games. Playing as the team’s target forward, Mullins has made the Revolution attack dynamic and since his move there, he has helped the team score 14 goals in four games.
- Lee Nguyen is the team’s leading scorer with five goals. Already drawing extensive applause as a league MVP candidate, Nguyen has been the Revs’ catalyst this season. Playing in his familiar central midfield role, Nguyen has helped guide the third-leading offense in MLS, while his two-way play defensively has stood out. He is a perfect 3-for-3 from the penalty spot this year and has two game-winning goals.
- Bobby Shuttleworth is having another standout season. His 1.00 goals against average is tied for second in MLS, and is tied for first among regular starting keepers. His four shutouts are the second-most in MLS, while his six wins are second in MLS. A commanding presence in the box, Shuttleworth has been a consistent figure for the Revs and his timely saves have helped allow the Revs to the top of the East.
- A.J. Soares has been the team’s most consistent presence on defense this year, playing every minute of every game so far. A center back, Soares has helped back one of MLS’ top defenses the last two years, including this season where the team is ranked in the top five yet again. Soares also has helped the team on the attacking end, scoring a memorable goal at Philadelphia in Week 11.
All-Star Selection Process
The 32 players named 2014 AT&T MLS All-Stars will be selected in four phases:
1) Ballot creation: Media members determined the field of players – eight players per team – who are most deserving of consideration for this year’s AT&T MLS All-Star Game. Those players are eligible for fan voting.
2) Fan voting: From May 28 through July 11, fans will select the “Fan XI” All-Stars. Fans can vote via any of three platforms:
a. At MLSsoccer.com: vote for your starting lineup of 11 players, beginning May 28
b. Via Twitter: from July 2 at 9 a.m. ET until July 6 at 11:59 p.m. ET; full details of Twitter voting will be released on MLSsoccer.com in the near future
c. Via the AT&T / EA SPORTS “More than a Vote” Challenge: fans will score as many goals as possible with their favorite MLS All-Star forward candidate in FIFA 14, with one goal equaling one vote. The forward with the most votes will occupy one of the forward spots on the All-Star Fan XI.
3) Team selection: The MLS All-Star head coach will select the game day roster from the pool of eligible players, consisting of the Fan XI, MLS Commissioner Don Garber’s two selections and players who received votes from at least two players.
The Commissioner selections and game day roster will be announced on July 19 or 21.
4) Player selections: MLS players will determine the remainder of the 32 All-Stars named annually per the CBA (known as the “inactive roster”).
The final list of 32 All-Stars (4 goalkeepers, 8 defenders, 13 midfielders and 7 forwards) will be announced on MLSsoccer.com on August 6.
2014 AT&T MLS All-Star Game Voting Timeline
- May 28: Fan voting begins
- July 2-6: Fan voting – Twitter Window
- July 11: Fan voting closes
- July 16: Fan XI unveiled
- July 19 or 21: Game day roster and Commissioner’s picks announced
- Aug. 6: MLS All-Stars vs. Bayern Munich at Providence Park at 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2, UniMas, TSN, RDS).
