*Earnie Stewart wins Honda Player of the Year award*
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LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Earnie Stewart, who led the United
States soccer team with five goals during its successful 2002
World Cup qualifying campaign, was named the 2001 Honda Player
of the Year on Wednesday. 

In its 11th year, the award is open to American players who have
participated in at least three international matches. 

Stewart, 32, captured the award for the first time. He outpolled
U.S. captain and midfielder Claudio Reyna -- the 2000 recipient
-- and defender Jeff Agoos in a vote of 251 American sports
journalists. 

Stewart became the career goal-scoring leader in World Cup
qualifiers for the U.S. with 11. 

The 11-year national team veteran tallied three times in the
home-and-home series with Honduras. He also found the net at
Columbus Crew Stadium in a triumph over Mexico and at Foxboro
Stadium in a win over Trinidad & Tobago. 

"It is great to be recognized as one of the best American
players, especially since I have been playing for clubs in
Holland my entire career," said Stewart, who was born in Vegel,
Netherlands to an American father and a Dutch mother. 

A fixture in the U.S. starting lineup, Stewart has 15 goals in
73 appearances for the U.S. national team.  He also competed in
the last two World Cups. 

"The Honda Player of the Year award is the most prestigious
honor an American player can receive," Stewart continued. "To
win it in a World Cup qualifying year really means a lot to me."

Perhaps his most famous effort came on June 22, 1994, when the
United States hosted the world's biggest single-sport event.
Stewart scored the winner in a 2-1 victory over Colombia to help
the Americans advance past a World Cup opening round for the
first time since 1950. 

Stewart became the 10th different winner of the award.  Forward
Eric Wynalda, the U.S. all-time leading goal scorer, is the lone
two-time recipient, winning in 1992 and 1996. 

Possessing speed along with a knack for scoring, Stewart has
netted 42 goals for NAC Breda in five-plus seasons with the
Dutch Eredivisie club.  He joined NAC in 1996 from Willem II
Tilburg, where he tallied 49 goals in 170 career games. 

Along with the trophy, Stewart was given a Honda Accord EX in
the ceremony at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Additionally, a sum of
$5,000 was donated on his behalf to the American Youth Soccer
Organization. 

st 12-12-01 20:05 et