Donovan, Onstad earn top play awards

LA Galaxy star's curling strike deemed AT&T; MLS Goal of the Year; Houston Dynamo goalkeeper's PK stuff voted Degree Men MLS Save of the Year

Major League Soccer Communications

Landon Donovan (left) and Pat Onstad bested the rest to take individual honors. (Getty Images)

More Degree Men Save of the Year
More AT&T; Goal of the Year
Donovan's Goal of the Year Watch
Onstad's Save of the Year400K|800K

SEATTLE -- Major League Soccer's most spectacular individual plays were honored on Wednesday as the LA Galaxy's Landon Donovan won the 2009 AT&T; Goal of the Year and Houston Dynamo goalkeeper Pat Onstad was awarded the Degree Men Save of the Year.

On Aug. 8 Donovan struck a stunning left-footed volley that curled into the far left side netting past an outstretched Matt Reis to give the Galaxy a 1-0 lead over the Revolution. The play resulted from a clearance by the Revolution defense and with one swing of his left leg, Donovan struck a beauty for his first Goal of the Year award.

Fans voted online for all 32 Goal of the Week winners, plus eight additional nominees. The goal, Donovan's ninth of the season, was voted the best among 571 goals were scored during the 2009 regular season. Donovan's remarkable strike edged a thunderous volley by Real Salt Lake midfielder Clint Mathis and a long-range blast by New England Revolution forward Edgaras Jankauskas.

Onstad's double save against Colorado earned him the first Save of the Year award. Other top saves included Real Salt Lake's Week 19 penalty kick save against FC Dallas forward Jeff Cunningham, and Dario Sala's Week 30 save against Antonio Ribeiro. Onstad, 41, showed that his keen instinct and catlike reflexes have not diminished. With his team ahead 1-0 late in the second half, Onstad stoned Rapids' forward Conor Casey on a penalty kick attempt by reaching high with his left hand to parry away Casey's shot. On the ensuing rebound attempt, Onstad recovered and saved another shot off the line from Rapids midfielder Terry Cooke. Onstad's save secured a 1-0 shutout for the Dynamo.

MLS Goal of the Year Winners

2009: Landon Donovan - LA Galaxy
2008: Will Johnson - Real Salt Lake
2007: Cuauhtémoc Blanco - Chicago Fire
2006: Brian Ching - Houston Dynamo
2005: Dwayne De Rosario - San Jose Earthquakes
2004: Dwayne De Rosario - San Jose Earthquakes
2003: Damani Ralph - Chicago Fire
2002: Carlos Ruiz - Los Angeles Galaxy
2001: Clint Mathis - MetroStars
2000: Marcelo Balboa - Colorado Rapids
1999: Marco Etcheverry - D.C. United
1998: Brian McBride - Columbus Crew
1997: Marco Etcheverry - D.C. United
1996: Eric Wynalda - San Jose Clash