Donovan captures Honda Award for record second straight season

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) -- Landon Donovan won the Honda Award as the men's national soccer player of the year, becoming the first to receive the honor in consecutive years.
The 21-year-old Donovan, who last year became the youngest winner, joined Eric Wynalda as the only two-time winners in the 13-year history of the award. Wynalda won in 1992 and 1996.
Donovan, a midfielder-forward, beat out defender Carlos Bocanegra and forward Brian McBride, his teammates on the U.S. national team.
"I kind of feel bad. These guys deserve it, they really do," Donovan said.
Donovan led the national team in scoring this year with seven goals.
In a July CONCACAF Gold Cup match against Cuba, he became only the fourth U.S. player to score four goals in one game, and tied as the Gold Cup's leading scorer.
He also is tied for sixth place on the national team's all-time scoring list with 14 goals.
He is in his third season with the San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer.
Voting was conducted among 206 American sports writers. Donovan won handily, with 396 points to 194 for McBride and 130 for Bocanegra.