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Sporting KC's Jimmy Nielsen named Goalkeeper of the Year

Sporting KC earned another individual honor on Wednesday when Jimmy Nielsen was named the league's best goalkeeper.

By Kevin Jeffers
Ed Zurga

Yet another individual honor went to Sporting Kansas City on Wednesday, when Jimmy Nielsen was named the 2012 MLS Goakeeper of the Year. Nielsen started all 34 games for Sporting and played every minute of those games while leading the team to the top record in the Eastern Conference.

It's just the latest honor for Nielsen, who was also named to the MLS Best XI along with Sporting teammates Aurelien Collin, Graham Zusi and Matt Besler, who was also named the league's top defender for the year.

Nielsen led MLS with 15 shutouts this season and 18 wins, which tied a league record. Nielsen also posted a team-record 0.79 goals against average, bettering his career GAA of 1.02, the lowest of any goalkeeper in league history.

Nielsen was instrumental in leading Sporting KC to the Eastern Conference's top seed. Sporting KC was upset in their first playoff matchup, however, losing a 2-1 aggregate decision to the Houston Dynamo.