Pablo Campos Named NASL Golden Ball Winner
MIAMI, Fla. (October 17, 2012) – San Antonio Scorpions forward Pablo Campos has been named the recipient of the NASL Golden Ball, the award for the league’s most valuable player. Campos was the league’s leading goal scorer, tallying 20 goals for the Scorpions in their inaugural season to win the NASL Golden Boot and helping San Antonio win the NASL Regular Season Championship.
Thanks in large part to Campos, the Scorpions scored more goals than any other team in the NASL with 46. He was also a unanimous choice to the NASL Best XI, appearing in all 28 regular season matches and logging 2,388 minutes throughout the 2012 season. He also recorded five assists during the season.
Campos garnered 12 of the 18 first place votes cast by media in NASL markets. Tampa Bay goalkeeper Jeff Attinella finished second with four first place votes, while Tampa Bay defender Takuya Yamada and Fort Lauderdale forward Mark Anderson received one first place vote each.
“It was great to be part of this inaugural season for the Scorpions and being able to set a standard for future Scorpions players to follow,” Campos said. “I want to thank my teammates, coaches and the organization for all their support throughout the year to make all of our success possible.”
Campos finished second in the league in goals scored in 2011 as a member of the Carolina RailHawks, finishing behind teammate Etienne Barbara, who led the NASL in goals scored with 20.
In a year of firsts for the expansion Scorpions, Campos’ first goal of the season came against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers on Apr. 21 at Heroes Stadium, which was also the first home goal in franchise history.
He was named the NASL Player of the Month for July after scoring seven goals for the month, including a four-goal performance in an 8-0 win against the Carolina RailHawks on July 28. He scored his 20th and final goal of the regular season in the season finale against the Minnesota Stars FC on Sept. 23 at Heroes Stadium.
Campos was the most aggressive offensive threat for the Scorpions this season, taking the most shots (77) and putting the most shots on goal (44). The Scorpions striker scored the lone playoff goal for San Antonio in the second leg of the NASL Semifinals at home against Minnesota on Oct. 14. Campos is the NASL’s all-time leading goal scorer with 38 goals in all competitions during the last two seasons.
Throughout the course of the season, Campos tallied six multiple-goal games and in those six games, the Scorpions were 5W-1T-0L.
