Jones Honored as Top Player in U.S. Soccer

Midfielder Cobi Jones was honored Monday as Honda player of the year, presented annually to the top performer on the U.S. men’s national soccer team.

“It’s a great feeling to win,” Jones said after a ceremony at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. “Every player likes to be acknowledged in some shape or form that what they’re doing is the right thing.”

Jones received 67 first-place votes and 271 points from a panel of more than 200 print and broadcast reporters. Goalkeeper Kasey Keller was second with 238 points and 48 first-place votes, and defender Eddie Pope, the 1997 winner, was third with 145 points and 21 first-place votes.