by JAKE NUTTING

In anticipation of the championship final between the New York Cosmos and Ottawa Fury FC on Sunday, the NASL has begun to announce recipients of some of the league’s regular season awards.

The NASL kicked things off with the three awards that are based solely on statistics — Golden Boot, Golden Glove, and the Fair Play award.

The league will reveal the winners of the voter-based awards, including Golden Ball and Coach of the Year, later on this week.

Golden Boot: Stefano Pinho, Fort Lauderdale Strikers

Fort Lauderdale’s forward claimed the league’s scoring crown with an impressive 16-goal tally, with 12 of those goals coming in the 20-game Fall Season. Pinho’s stellar fall campaign was integral to the club’s rise up the standings to claim the fourth playoff spot. Pinho appeared in 28 of Fort Lauderdale’s 30 matches this year and he only missed the other two due to red card suspensions.

“I’m happy with the opportunity that the Strikers gave me, and I had to return their faith in me with goals,” said Pinho. “I started the season slowly, but once I started scoring I didn’t slow down. I want to thank God for giving me the gifts to do what I love and I have to thank everyone who helped me both on and off the field.”

Last year’s Golden Boot winner, Christian Ramirez, finished second behind Pinho with 12 goals. Pinho folows inthe footsteps of his fellow Brazilian Pablo Campos, who took the award in 2012. The 24-year-old is the first loan player to ever claim the Golden Boot. His contract status for next season is unknown.

Golden Glove: Romuald Peiser, Ottawa Fury FC

Roumald Peiser claimed this year’s top prize for goalkeepers by finishing the season with a goals against average of 0.71, tying the modern era record. He edged out New York Cosmos keeper Jimmy Maurer who finished with 0.93. Ottawa only conceded a remarkable 22 goals in the 29 matches in which Peiser started between the posts.

“I’m really happy about it,” Peiser said on the award. “It’s been a really good season for Fury FC and for me as well. It’s also an award for the team because as a player you get awards when your team does well and Fury FC was fantastic. I’m thankful to my teammates.”

Peiser’s astounding season is one for the record books. The 36-year-old keeper established new modern era records with a 648-minute shutout streak, 14 shutouts, and 15 victories. Peiser was gifted one of the most consistent defensive units in the NASL, but a significant numbers of his 73 saves came a crucial moments to keep his side competitive. Ottawa’s incredible run up the combined table is owed in large part to Peiser’s heroics in the final five matches of the Spring Season when the attack was struggling to score. Peiser posted five shutouts in each one of those matches.

Fair Play Award: Ottawa Fury FC

While they wait to see if they will be the team hoisting the Soccer Bowl on Sunday night, Ottawa can rejoice in knowing they have at least one more trophy to go along with their Fall Season crown. The Canadian side was awarded the league’s Fair Play for being the least cautioned club during the regular season. The discipline instilled by head coach Marc Dos Santos helped limit the team to only one red card and 45 yellow cards this year.

“It makes me proud,” said Dos Santos. “I think we’re a very aggressive team, we’re a team that plays with a lot of passion, a lot of commitment, and yet we’re a clean team. We’re a team that manages the game well, that respects the officials, the game and the people around us starting from the players and coaching staff.”