Burke and Miller take USL awards

• by Soccer America , Oct 28, 2015

Sidelined by a broken leg in 2013, Bryan Burke of Louisville City FC has reached another milestone in his comeback by being named USL Defender of the Year. A record-setting season for Rochester’s Brandon Miller earned him the Goalkeeper of the Year award.

Miller set league marks in shutouts (13) and goals-against average (0.54) as Rochester won the regular-season title and set a league mark for fewest goals allowed (15). He is the third Rhinos keeper to claim the award in the past four seasons, following Kristian Nicht in 2012 and John McCarthy in 2014.

Miller, 25, recorded 13 shutouts in 21 regular-season starts for the Rhinos and posted two more shutouts in three playoff games during Rochester’s run to the championship, their first since 2001. He started his pro career with Rochester in 2013 after playing four collegiate seasons at UNC-Wilmington.

Burke, a right back, played in all 28 regular-season games as Louisville finished second in the Eastern Conference, and registered 10 assists for the team that led the league in scoring with 55 goals. The native of Southern California played collegiately at the University of San Francisco and was playing in the USL for Orlando City when he suffered a broken leg against the Charleston Battery in July 2013. The Lions released Burke, 26,  at the end of the 2014 season as part of its transition from USL to MLS.

The 2015 USL awards were determined by votes submitted by team officials and media representatives, and by fans on an online poll. Each day this week the league is releasing names of the winners.

2015 USL Awards
Goalkeeper of the Year -- Brandon Miller, Rochester Rhinos
Defender of the Year -- Bryan Burke, Louisville City FC
Coach of the Year -- Wednesday.
Rookie of the Year -- Thursday.
Most Valuable Player -- Friday.