The US Soccer Federation has named defender Oguchi Onyewu as the US Soccer Player of the Year.

The US international of Nigerian legacy had an impressive World Cup in Germany earlier in the year where the Americans were eliminated in the first round itself.

The 24-year-old Onyewu became the first defender to take the award since Alexei Lalas in 1995 in a vote that came 50 percent from internet ballots and 50 percent from media and federation representatives.

"It's an honor to be recognized as one of the elite athletes of US Soccer," Onyewu, who plays for Standard Liege in Belgium, said.

Kristine Lilly won the honor for the third time for her play with the US women's squad, which will try to reclaim the Women's World Cup next year in China.

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