Next in Line’s Loudoun United End-Of-Season Accolades

Despite another less-than-thrilling end to the season that saw Loudoun United get jaw-jacked by one of the proverbial heavy-weights and again miss the “playoff train,” I think that what we saw from Loudoun was a genuine improvement. For the first time since the 2019 Season, Loudoun was a team that wasn’t one to just roll through. We weren’t the squad that would maybe upset a team here and there, but we were one that demonstrated a semblance of “we belong here” in a League that might not always want us there. Starting off the season hot (or super cold depending on if you went to any of the early matches), Loudoun climbed their way up the power rankings and into the respect of many early opponents. But as the first half of the season trudged on, the “old Loudoun” reemerged. It wasn’t until the 2ndhalf and a win over LA Galaxy 2 that the squad started to string together results again. 

All in all, I think that the final ranking and overall performances are indicative of a team that is on the way up in a League that they might not be long for. Hopefully, it’s a League that we’re able to at least play in the playoffs for once before being tossed to the side. And maybe we’ll achieve that feat in 2023? In the meantime, it would be irresponsible to not highlight the wonderful players and performances of the 2022 Season through our usual accolades. So, on behalf of the two Adams in the Next in Line Podcast, as well as everyone in the RFK Refugees Sports Network, I hope you enjoy the below: 

Highest Rated Player (Minimum of 10 matches):

  1. Ted Ku-DiPietro (7.7 rating over 10 matches)
    1. Despite not being a regular featured item for the Red & White, “TKD” was ever the efficient player when he debuted for the squad. His MOTM efficiency this season was higher than any player in the history of the team after nearly 30% of the matches he player in resulted in him taking the horseshoe. Despite his young age, Teddie was a force to be reckoned with for opposing defenses to respect. 
  2. Abdellatif Aboukoura (7.6 rating over 11 matches)
    1. “Bouji,” as his former DC United Academy teammates call him, was busy for a good chunk of the season making a name for himself on the MLS Next Roster as well as the Egyptian National Team. But when present, he was a whirlwind on the field. His ability to create chances out of nothing gave the Loudoun offense a sharpness they lacked for a long span of the season. 
  3. Sam Guediri (7.4 rating over 13 matches)
    1. Starting hot and early, Sami lit up the USL Championship with some stellar performances and “Team of the Week” accolades. Unfortunately for the Red & White, those performances, coupled with injuries at Audi Field, led to his well-deserved promotion and cut short his stint at Segra early. His might be one of the big “what ifs” that could circulate around this season’s potential. 
  4. Michael Gamble (7.3 rating over 15 matches)
    1. Gamble came into the season as the most veteran player on the roster, having worked with Coach Martin in the past but also has featured in the last few seasons on the squad. Injuries continued to hamper what was looking like would be a rebirth season for the crafty midfielder but while he was on the field, he was still a behemoth. 
  5. Kimarni Smith (7.1 rating over 12 matches)
    1. It would be befitting that Loudoun would start the season on a goal from the young Englishman from Clemson and that it would also end the season that way. Kimarni’s freezing strike back in March feels like an eternity ago, at a time when hopes were so high for a squad that again failed to reach the playoffs. But Smith proved why he can continue to play at the professional level and DC United snapped him up to do just that.
  6. Tyler Freeman (7.0 rating over 24 matches)
    1. “Tattoos Tyler” was another player to start off the season with an absolute hot streak. An amazing performance against NYRB2 threw him into early contention for Player of the Season but inconsistency as the season went on let others slip onto the list. At merely 19 years old, this guy has loads of talent and carries himself like someone who is 10 years older. We should all hope Loudoun can retain the talented attacker. 

Most “Man-of-the-Match” Awards

  1. Tied with 3 MOTMs
    1. Jacob Greene (6.8); Tyler Freeman (7.0); Luis Zamudio (6.6)
  2. Tied in 2nd with 2 MOTMs
    1. Skage Simonson (6.9); Nicky Downs (6.9); Kimarni Smith (7.1); Nanan Houssou (6.7); Sam Guediri (7.4); Ted Ku-DiPietro (7.7); Kristian Fletcher (6.5)

Performance of the Season:

  1. Abdellatif Aboukoura; AKA “Bouji” with a 9.1 player rating versus Phoenix Rising 

Honorary Mention(s): 

Team Performance of the Season:

Individual Awards:

Goal of the Season: Kristian Fletcher v FC Tulsa on August 27

Assist of the Season: Michael Gamble (to Aboukoura) v Phoenix Rising on June 18th

Save of the Season: Luis Zamudio (Penalty Save) v Tulsa FC on July 3rd

Most Improved Player: Nanan Houssou Landry

Utility Player of the Year: Skage Simonson

Young Player of the Year: Kristian Fletcher

Player of the Year: Luis Zamudio

People’s Choice Player: Tune into our Instagram to vote!

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