Los Angeles' Guatemalan striker Carlos Ruiz's July 27 game-winning goal against Columbus has been voted MLS Goal of the Year 2002.
Ruiz slammed home a right-footed volley at the edge of the goal area after receiving a cross from Alejandro Moreno.
It was Ruiz's 16th goal of a campaign in which he would net a league-high 24 regular-season goals. Ruiz finished behind Taylor Twellman's 52 points on 23 goals and 6 assists for the league's leading scoring race, which gives 2 points for a goal and 1 for an assist. Ruiz finished with 49 points.
A Sept. 7 effort by San Jose's Ronnie Ekelund, in which he half-volleyed a rocket into Columbus' goal after Richard Mulrooney flicked the ball in the air, finished second in the online voting.
Third was Twellman's bicycle-kick strike June 22 against Kansas City June 22.
Ruiz's Goal of the Year and other nominations can be viewed at:
MLS GOAL OF THE YEAR AWARD
2002 Carlos Ruiz (Los Angeles)
2001 Clint Mathis (MetroStars)
2000 Marcelo Balboa (Colorado)
1999 Marco Etcheverry (D.C. United)
1998 Brian McBride (Columbus)
1997 Marco Etcheverry (D.C. United)
1996 Eric Wynalda (San Jose )