MONTREAL - The Montreal Impact announced on Monday that Argentine midfielder Ignacio Piatti has been named the club's Most Valuable Player in 2017 and received the Giuseppe Saputo Trophy for the third consecutive season, while defender Daniel Lovitz was named Defensive player of the year.
"We are pleased to award this trophy to Nacho for a third time, as he has played another great season," said Impact technical director Adam Braz. "He's proving each year that he is one of the best players in MLS."
In his fourth season with the Impact, Piatti tied his 2016 performances on the field, despite playing five games less. He was the Impact's top goal scorer this term, with 17 goals, while adding six assists in 28 games, including 26 starts, and 2,368 minutes. He finished the year tied for second in MLS with five multi-goal games, tied for third with four penalty goals, tied for sixth with 17 goals and 10th with 37 shots on goal. He also recorded a brace in three starts in the Canadian Championship.
Piatti, who recently extended his contract with the club for three more years, was named the MLS Player of the Month for August, the MLS Player of the Week for the 24th week of activity and was selected four times to the MLSsoccer.com Team of the Week. He also was nominated three times for the MLS Goal of the Week and was selected eight times as the Videotron player of the game by the supporters.
The Argentine Designated Player featured in the MLS All-Star Game, in Chicago, on August 2, against Spanish giant Real Madrid.
After recording a brace against Portland on May 20, Piatti passed Marco Di Vaio to become the record goal scorer in MLS club history, with 47 regular season goals.
On August 27 against Toronto, Piatti tied an old club record (first and second divisions) by scoring at least a goal in a fifth consecutive game. He tied previous marks set by Grant Needham in 1993 and Lloyd Barker in 1995.
Defender Daniel Lovitz was chosen Defensive player of the year, earning the honour in his first season with the club.
Lovitz, acquired on February 28, reached personal marks in 2017 in MLS, with 24 games played, including 18 starts, and 1,660 minutes. He recorded his first career assist with the Impact on September 16 against Minnesota United FC. He also started two of three Canadian Championship games.
"Daniel has shown he has a strong mentality and character to do whatever it takes to help the team," said Braz. He earned a contract during preseason and he was always ready to help the team when he was called upon. He understood his role within the group and showed certain strong qualities in a difficult year defensively for the team."
The MVP and Defensive player of the year were selected by the club's technical staff.
Giuseppe Saputo Trophy recipients (MLS):
2017: Ignacio Piatti
2016: Ignacio Piatti
2015: Ignacio Piatti
2014: Andrés Romero
2013: Marco Di Vaio
2012: Patrice Bernier
Defensive Player of the Year (MLS):
2017: Daniel Lovitz
2016: Hassoun Camara
2015: Laurent Ciman
