2017 #MOBAProud Man of the Year Award

Every year, at the conclusion of the PDL regular season, one member of the Peachtree City MOBA roster is selected as the recipient of the #MOBAProud Man of the Year Award. An award given not just based on a player's on the field accomplishments, but his off the field contributions as well. A player who has a spectacular season statistically while also showing a great pride to be a member of Peachtree City MOBA is a prime candidate for the award. The 2017 award, however, held special meaning, as unlike last year's winner, this year's winner was selected by the fans, and the fans made their voices heard.

Michael Brezovsky - 2017 #MOBAProud Man of the Year

Arguably the most notable offseason acquisition, Michael Brezovsky out of Dayton University via Plano, Texas, brought something special to the table: experience. Already with three years of division one soccer under his belt with the Flyers, Brezovsky has seen his role at Dayton increase significantly since his freshman year. Starting eleven matches as a defender last season compared to just one in his first season, Brezovsky was integral to the Flyers' success, as six of their eight wins came with Brezovsky on the pitch, accumulating five clean sheets and seven one-goal matches. Brezovsky isn't just a college standout, however. Last Summer, Brezovksy became an established name on the PDL landscape as well, starting and playing the full ninety minutes of eleven matches for the Dayton Dutch Lions of the Great Lakes Division. During his tenure with the Lions, Dayton recorded all nine of their results (four wins and five draws) with Brezovsky on the field while only losing twice, one of which was a 1-0 road loss to soon-to-be PDL champions Michigan Bucks. The Lions did beat the Bucks at home 1-0 two matches earlier, however, and finished the season the 4-5-5, which put them in fourth on the division table.

Entering 2017, Brezovsky made the long trip down south to join second-year club Peachtree City, making an immediate impact for the side as they recorded their first point of the season on the road against Tormenta FC in Brezovsky's debut. In the following match, after MOBA went down 2-0 late, Brezovsky did let his passion get the best of him, however, as he picked up a red card after an altercation in the box, but the ensuing penalty was saved by Will Meyer, so no harm done. After serving his one-match suspension during MOBA's 2-1 home loss the Nashville SC, Brezovsky came back and really established himself as a key member of the MOBA squad, playing a Michael Parkhurst-like center back position, sticking back and coordinating play. Any time things got out of hand for MOBA, or any time the pressure became too much, the ball would be sent back to Brezovsky to reset, and play would begin again. Joining emerging star Daniel Olaniran and captain Adam Sheikali on the back line became a crucial part of MOBA's second half success.

After starting 0-6-1, MOBA went into Nashville looking to get revenge on their Tennessee rivals. In what was probably the most physical match of the season, it was MOBA who came out on top, and right at the forefront was Michael Brezovsky. After Fletcher Ekern tied things at two not long after halftime, Nashville's Joe Kerriage received his second yellow of the match and was sent off. With reigning Man of the Year Salomon Lorenzano on the free kick a full fifty yards out, Brezovsky snuck forward from his center back position and placed himself in the box. Lorenzano crossed the ball perfectly to Brezovsky, who used his massive frame to get higher than anybody and beat an already-committed William Pyle to the ball. Brezovsky sent the ball high into the air and pulled off the impossible. The ball came down behind all twenty-two men and bounced over the goal line and into the corner of the net, putting MOBA up 3-2 late. Brezovsky then made his name heard again two matches later, as MOBA hosted Tri-Cities at home. Tied at one entering the eighty-fourth minute, Brezovksy, now playing a central-midfielder position, headed keeper Carlos Rubio's goal kick back down field, and after the ball attempted to come back at him, Brezovsky broke off his man and gave the ball a touch over everybody, finding forward Edmundo Robinson perfectly, who made no mistake, beating Rubio and securing MOBA's first and only home win of the season. Brezovsky then played an integral role on the defensive end in the following match, keeping Mississippi Brilla within arm's length, and Todd Fidler scored the late equalizer to steal a point on the road. The remainder of the year was one to forget result-wise, but even in the bad losses, Brezovsky continued to play his role. Looking over game tape and film, it doesn't take a mastermind to notice that opposing strikers refused to go down the left side of the field, the side of the field that hosted both Brezovsky in the center and James Thomas alongside him.

While it goes without saying that the season did not go as planned, MOBA did pick up some incredible talent, and right at the top of the list was defender Michael Brezovsky. In fan voting, Brezovsky won in a landslide, picking up 77% of the overall vote. A choice with incredible justification, Brezovsky had an outstanding season for MOBA, and he is definitely the kind of player that MOBA would love to bring back in 2017. That remains in question, however, as Brezovsky enters his senior year at Dayton, and he is definitely the kind of player that could enter the MLS or USL ranks following college. No matter the path he decides to take, Brezovsky was a more than welcome addition to the 2017 squad, and on behalf of everybody at MOBA Soccer Academy and MOBAProud.com, we would like to congratulate Michael Brezovsky on an outstanding season.

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