3/13/09 - The Professional Arena Soccer League today announced the first-year recipients of the league’s postseason awards.  The awards include All-First and All-Second Teams, MVP, Coach of the Year, and the yet-to-be awarded Finals MVP.

Ballots were sent to each of the PASL-Pro’s American and Canadian teams.  Each team was allowed one vote and league officials provided an additional vote.  Player/coaches were not eligible for All-League honors, but were on the ballot for Coach of the Year honors.  Each team’s MVP pick had to come from their picks for All-League First Team.

The First Team included defenders Justin McMillian (St. Louis), and Garrett Buck (Cincinnati), midfielder Brian Farber (Stockton), forwards Aaron Susi (Stockton) and Elvir Kafedzic (St. Louis), and goalkeeper Craig Salvati (Cincinnati).

The Second Team consisted of defenders Jeff Hughes (Cincinnati) and Pedro Lupercio (Stockton), midfielders Majell Aterado (Stockton) and Shawn Rockey (Cincinnati), forward Junior Garcia (Wenatchee) and goalkeeper Bryan Klaus (Calgary).

Farber was the near-unanimous selection for Most Valuable Player.  Farber was second in the PASL-Pro with 39 goals and 55 points and was the lead transitional player in the Cougars top-ranked offense.  The 26-year old midfielder was the first player signed to the first year PASL-Pro.

1790 Cincinnati Head Coach Craig Rhodis was named league Coach of the Year.  Cincinnati led the PASL-Pro with a 13-3 record and earned the first seed in the PASL-Pro playoffs.  The disciplined 1790 squad was first in team defense, first in penalty killing and had the top rated power play.

The Illusion’s McMillian was the top vote getter on defense.  The veteran defender anchored the Illusion defense and freed up their top scorers to ring up the PASL-Pro’s third best offense.

Aaron Susi was the top vote getter amongst forwards.  He scored the first goal in PASL-Pro history on October 25 and finished the opener with a hat trick.

Farber and Salvati each received the most First Team votes and battled it out for MVP with Farber gaining the slight edge.

Rhodis and Cougars coach Bernie Lilavois were the top two vote getters for Coach of the Year.

The players involved in the PASL-Pro Championship Weekend will receive their awards tonight at 7:15 before the second game bewteen Tigres Dorados and Denver.  PASL-Pro Commissioner Kevin Milliken will present the awards.