The National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) is proud to announce New York Cosmos B forward Miguel Herlein and CD Aguiluchos USA forward Simon Rawnsley as recipients of the PUMA Golden Boot award. Both Herlein and Rawnsley finished the 2015 NPSL regular season with 12 goals and one assist. Results for the PUMA Golden Boot were tabulated from official match reports that were signed by the referees and submitted to the league.
Herlein spent his apprenticeship with Portuguese giants Benfica, and has moved internationally for his senior career. He played in Cyprus for Akritas and Spain for Granada B before returning home to Vilaverdense. Then after a spell with FC Goa in India, he joined the Cosmos. Herlein has also featured for his country at the youth level, scoring four goals in nine appearances for the Portugal U-19 National Team from 2010-2011.
Herlein was also named to the 2015 All-NPSL Team, receiving Second Team honors. “Miguel is a fantastic player with a bright future,” New York Cosmos B head coach Alecko Eskandarian commented. “He is a pure goalscorer who loves the pressure and responsibility that comes with scoring goals. Miguel had a fantastic season and I am excited about his development.”
Rawnsley has a plethora of experience in the U.S. and abroad. He played collegiate soccer with the University of Southern Indiana before playing indoors with the Evansville Crush. In 2014 he played for Mezcala SC in the San Francisco Soccer Football League (SFSFL), helping the club win the league title and winning the Golden Boot after scoring 20 goals.
This is not the first honor for the 27-year-old English striker as he earned Mitre National Player of the Week honors earlier this season.
“I am really pleased and proud to receive the PUMA Golden Boot,” Rawnsley added. “Credit goes to my teammates and staff at Aguiluchos for all the hard work they have put in, on and off the field this year.”
Rawnsley has also played for Bradford City, Halifax Town, Bradford Park Avenue, and Kendal Town in the United Kingdom.
An up-and-coming coach, Rawnsley currently serves as the Bladium West Ham United International Academy and Pre-Academy Manager. He has already earned several coaching badges, including the West Ham United Academy Coaching Diploma and the NSCAA National Diploma.
