Real Salt Lake Announce End Of Regular Season Award Winners
Nov 17, 2021, 4:25 PM | Updated: 4:38 pm
Real Salt Lake midfielder Damir Kreilach (8) celebrates a goal as Real Salt Lake and Los Angeles FC play an MLS game at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020. (Courtesy of Deseret News)
(Courtesy of Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY – Real Salt Lake’s season is not over, a date with the Sounders awaits. However, the club has announced club winners following the conclusion of the regular season.
Real Salt Lake players voted on the awards.
Golden Boot & Most Valuable Player
To nobody’s surprise, Damir Kreilach took home the 2021 Golden Boot award and the Most Valuable Player award following his 16 goals, 9 assist haul. The star Croatian appeared in the 2021 MLS All-Star game, was influential in helping guide Real Salt Lake to a playoff birth, and never feared any moment whether good or bad.
Kreilach was pivotal in the success of Real Salt Lake thus far. The final kick of the regular season occurred when Kreilach buried the game-winning goal on Decision Day against Sporting Kansas City to lift Real Salt Lake into the playoffs.
His presence and impact are difficult to put into words. He appeared in 33 of the 34 regular-season games, 32 of them he started. He is just the third player in club history to receive MVP awards in multiple seasons following his debut MVP season in 2018. Kyle Beckerman and Javier Morales were the other two players.
Drum roll please 🥁
The end of year #RSL awards are in.
— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) November 17, 2021
Defensive Player of the Year
Aaron Herrera secured the RSL Defensive Player of the Year award following his sensational season that involved 11 assists and was good enough for most assists by a defensive player in the league. The 11 assists marks as the fifth most by all players in the league and second-most all-time by a defensive player in league history.
Herrera was truly spectacular flying up and down the right-flank for Real Salt Lake throughout the season. He notched his first professional goal when he scored against LAFC on July 17. He ended the regular season with a 76.6 duels won percentage, 24 interceptions, and 53 successful tackles.
Jordan Guernsey Humanitarian of the Year
Finally, Zac MacMath was the recipient of the Jordan Guernsey Humanitarian of the Year award.
In 2021, MacMath participated in Special Olympics initiatives, RSL Unified signing day, and the Unified Sports Championships held at Rio Tinto Stadium in September. Additionally, MacMath played a role as a representative of the club in the Healing Fields project to commemorate and remember the tragic events of September 11, 2001.
This is not the first time MacMath has been awarded the award. When he was in Colorado he won the award twice for the Rapids in 2017 and 2018. MacMath hails from parents who are mental health professionals that serve as community ambassadors for the homeless and veteran communities.
Next Match
Real Salt Lake will next travel to Seattle for a date with Freddy Juarez and the Sounders. The single-elimination game will be a part of the first round of the MLS Playoffs with the winner advancing while the loser is eliminated.
The kick-off is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. on November 23rd and will be broadcast via FS1.
