FC Dallas forward Tesho Akindele was named Major League Soccer's 2014 Rookie of the Year on Monday, after a season that saw the 22-year-old move from NCAA Division II play to national team consideration in both his native Canada and the United States.
Akindele finished the 2014 regular season with seven goals and three assists, starting 18 games and appearing in 26 contests. Akindele went on to score the opening goal in FC Dallas' 2-1 playoffs win over the Vancouver Whitecaps in the Western Conference knockout round.
Akindele, who played at the Colorado School of Mines, notched a hat trick at San Jose back on Aug. 16, and scored his first playoff goal in Dallas' 2-1 win over Vancouver on Oct. 29.
He was born in Calgary, Alberta, but has lived in the U.S. since he was nine.
The striker spent time earlier in his career with Canada's under-17s.
Chicago Fire midfielder Harry Shipp (seven goals, six assists, 26 starts) and DC United defender Steve Birnbaum (21 starts) were the other two finalists for the award.
The league said Monday that the 22-year-old player received 86 percent of combined team, media and player votes.
Philadelphia won the team Fair Play Award, and Columbus defender Michael Parkhurst won the individual Fair Play Award.
