MBFC Announces End of Season Awards for 2023
Monterey Bay Football Club has announced its annual end of season award winners for 2023 as voted on by local media members and MBFC players. Defender Kai Greene was selected once again as the club’s Defensive Player of the Year, while forward Alex Dixon was voted the club’s Most Valuable Player. In addition, Dixon earned this season’s Golden Boot award and Antony Siaha earned his second-consecutive Golden Glove.
ICYMI: Morey Doner became MBFC’s first Ironman for playing every available minute this season.
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
Alex Dixon was selected as the Club’s Most Valuable Player for 2023 in his first season with the Crisp-and-Kelp. The Bay City, Texas native started the season with a bang, scoring a first-half hat trick in his debut match for the Club in a 5-3 win over Hartford Athletic at Cardinale Stadium. Not only did Dixon record the first hat trick in Club history in the match, he also scored the first penalty kick in Club history during that performance. Utilized in all three forward positions throughout the campaign, he went on to break the Club record for most goal contributions in a single season with 14. In total, Dixon played 2,401 minutes across 32 matches (29 starts) for the Union in year one.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Kai Greene was voted as the Club’s Defensive Player of the Year for the second time running for his stalwart performance as a mainstay on the backline. It was a season that saw the centerback start in every match and play in all but 14 available minutes (3,046 total) on the year. Overall, the Jersey City, New Jersey native recorded 138 clearances – up from 107 last season – and added 62 tackles, 29 interceptions, and 16 blocks in 2023.
GOLDEN GLOVE
Antony Siaha earns back-to-back Golden Glove awards with a team-high five clean sheets in just 16 matches this season. There were three standout moments between the sticks for Siaha this season. The first was a 1-0 shutout victory over Major League Soccer side San Jose Earthquakes in the U.S. Open Cup at Cardinale Stadium on April 25, the Club’s first win over an MLS opponent. The second was an impressive 1-0 win that handed the top-seeded Republic FC its first home loss of the season at Heart Health Park in Sacramento on June 17. The third moment came a week later in Seaside against the visiting Miami FC. Scoreless through the hour mark, Miami was awarded a penalty in the match. Siaha saved the penalty with a diving effort, sparking an immediate counter that led to the game-winning goal a mere 15 seconds after the save. In total, Siaha finished the year with 58 saves on 79 shots faced for a quality 73% save percentage and saved two of his four total penalties faced in 2023.
GOLDEN BOOT
Dixon earned this season’s Golden Boot award for scoring a single-season Club record of 12 goals during the campaign, a party that got started with a hat trick on match day one and featured a game-winning goal on the road in Memphis against 901 FC on September 9. Dixon’s 12 goals came from 16 shots on target, tied for the highest mark on the team this season. Breaking down his scoring, the forward hit the back of the net with his right foot on eight of his goals, with his left foot on three of his goals, and added one with his head. He also added two assists on the year.
All-Time Monterey Bay Football Club End of Year Award Recipients
MBFC Most Valuable Player: Alex Dixon (2023), Sam Gleadle (2022)
MBFC Defensive Player of the Year: Kai Greene (2023, 2022)
MBFC Golden Boot: Alex Dixon (2023), Gleadle/Boone (2022)
MBFC Golden Glove: Antony Siaha (2023, 2022)
