FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – It’s no secret that goal scorers win Most Valuable Player awards.
Not only are goals – and to a lesser extent, assists – the easiest metric by which to measure an individual player’s “success,” they’re also often the most exciting and memorable moments in a game.
People love goal scorers, and often that’s been borne out in the New England Revolution’s MVP awards. Through the club’s first 19 seasons, the team’s leading scorer was named MVP 11 times.
That’s why Scott Caldwell – an unassuming, cerebral, do-your-job holding midfielder – was a bit taken aback when he was named the 2015 Revolution Santander Team MVP, as voted by the fans.
“There are numerous guys on our team who are deserving of an award, so I was very surprised,” said Caldwell, who notched the first two goals of his career in his third professional season this year. “I really appreciate it from the fans and it means a lot.”
That’s about all Caldwell will say about the honor. It’s clear the award means a great deal to him, but it’s also obvious that the 24-year-old isn’t exactly comfortable talking about his own accomplishments.
But that’s fine, because Caldwell’s teammates and coaches aren’t shy about piling on the praise.
“I think all the guys, it’s probably consensus that he’s been our best player this year, and I think the past three years he’s been one of the best players throughout,” said Andrew Farrell, who joined the Revolution as a rookie alongside Caldwell in 2013. “It’s awesome to see that he gets recognized.”
Caldwell has been a regular in New England’s lineup since that rookie season, starting 37 of his 55 appearances through his first two years as a pro. But it was this year that he truly became indispensable, leading the Revolution in minutes played (2,792) while appearing in all 33 league contests thus far.
At times this season Caldwell has found himself more involved in the attack, notching two goals and five assists after totaling zero goals and four assists the past two years.
It’s everything else that Caldwell does that earned him MVP, though. A calming presence in New England’s midfield, he’s the pendulum who keeps the attack moving from side to side, while he’s also the disruptive force who closes down passing lanes and kick-starts the counter.
“He’s not only a great locker room guy, he’s a great player,” said head coach Jay Heaps. “You see Scott influence games. He’s a key guy to our group, not just on the field, but his personality off the field.”
“I know it means a lot to him because he’s put in the work since his Akron days to get here,” said Farrell, who is Caldwell’s roommate on the road and his housemate in Massachusetts. “It’s great to see that his hard work has paid off and people recognize it.”
Caldwell has always let his play on the field do the talking, and that play has said quite a bit.
“Even when he went to go accept the award (before kickoff of last weekend’s game against Montreal), he was ready to go play and show what he can do,” Farrell said. “It’s cool when someone plays well and gets it, but when Scott deserves it and he’s so humble, it’s even cooler to see.”
The voting made it clear that the fans’ choice for MVP this year was Scott Caldwell, the second Homegrown player to win the award in the past three years after Diego Fagundez was honored in 2013.
But the choice would’ve been the same regardless of who made the decision, players, fans or otherwise.
“All the guys feel the same way that I think the fans do,” said Heaps.
