Seattle's Chad Marshall wins MLS Defender of the Year award

Published Nov. 25, 2014 12:30 p.m. ET

foxsports

NEW YORK --

Seattle's Chad Marshall has been voted Major League Soccer's Defender of the Year for a record third time.

He made 31 regular-season league appearances in his first season with the Sounders. He also won the award in 2008 and `09 with Columbus.

“I’m very honored to be named Defender of the Year and it’s a testament to the great season we’ve had,” said Marshall in a released statement. “I feel privileged to be a Sounder and I can’t thank my teammates, coaches, organization and fans enough. Defense is a team effort, so on behalf of the rest of the defenders I’m happy to accept this award.”

The league said Tuesday he received 83 percent of weighed ballots added from team, media and player votes. D.C. United's Bobby Boswell was second with 77 percent, followed by the Los Angeles Galaxy's Omar Gonzalez with 43 percent.

“I’m very happy for Chad. He has played well this season and been a great impact on our team,” said Sounders FC Head Coach Sigi Schmid. “To be the first three-time winner shows his consistent high-quality play in our league throughout his career.”

Mark Geiger was voted Referee of the Year with 178 percent of a possible 300 percent after becoming the first American to referee a knockout-round match at the World Cup. Jair Marrufo was second with 63 percent, followed by Alan Kelly with 59 percent.