Los Angeles Galaxy: Ins and Outs, November 10, 2011

Omar Gonzalez wins Defender of the Year

Los Angeles Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez won the MLS Defender of the Year Award on Wednesday. Gonzalez is the youngest-ever player to win the awar at 23. He recorded 17 clean sheets and allowed only 20 goals in 29 matches played.

Needless to say, the Maryland graduate was beaming.

“I was pretty pumped about it,” Gonzalez told MLSSoccer.com's Luis Bueno. “This is a huge award and it’s a great accolade for me personally, being my third year here in this league.

"I was close to winning it last year but it just wasn’t enough. I put a lot of hard work going into this year [and] my hard work paid off.”

Gonzalez was paired with Gregg Berhalter and Leonardo but for the most part combined forces with A.J. DeLaGarza in central defense.

“It’s been pretty easy playing with those three guys because everyone plays hard, everyone’s organized and they’re just ready to play game in and game out," Gonzalez said. "Whoever it was, I was very comfortable with them.”

In the middle of a two-week break

For Galaxy manager Bruce Arena, the arrival of a two-week break couldn't have come any sooner for his club.

“If any team needs the two weeks off, it’s our team,” Arena told Bueno. “Hopefully we can get our group ready for the final.”

Only two players are expected to not be available for the MLS Cup Final on Nov. 20: defenders Sean Alvarado and Leonardo, who suffered season-ending injuries.

“We’re starting to get our team back,” Arena added. “We’ve played a whole season without our first 11, which is kind of remarkable and now this week was great to get a bunch of guys on the field together for literally the first time this year.”

For midfielder Mike Magee, the importance of a calm beform the storm is invaluable to the team's collective health.

I think it took me a while to get in the game as well as a couple of the other guys because of all the games and lack of days off," Magee said. "It will be nice to get a couple of days off here this week. I’m sure it will feel like months before the final."

Kickoff between the Los Angeles Galaxy and Houston Dynamo is scheduled for 6 p.m. PT/9 p.m. ET and will be televised by ESPN and Galavision.

On Oddschecker.com, the Galaxy are listed as a 4/7 favorite, while Houston are a 9/2 longshot.