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Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas has been voted CONCACAF's Male Player of the Year, the confederation announced on Tuesday. The football governing body of North and Central America and the Caribbean said that Navas was followed by Costa Rica forward Bryan Ruiz and American goalkeeper Tim Howard in voting by national team coaches and captains, media and fans. During the 2014 World Cup, Navas helped Costa Rica to wins over Uruguay and Italy and a goalless draw against England as they won a very difficult group in Brazil. He then helped the Ticos escape Greece on penalties in the round of 16, and held Netherlands goalless for 120 minutes in the quarterfinals before losing on penalties. Costa Rica manager Jorge Luis Pinto was also named Coach of the Year. Howard won his second straight Goalkeeper of the Year award, and Ruiz won Goal of the Year for his shot against Italy during the World Cup. American forward Abby Wambach was voted Female Player of the Year after finishing second to U.S. teammate Alex Morgan last year's inaugural awards. Costa Rica midfielder Shirley Cruz was second and Mexico forward Charlyn Corral third. Mark Geiger was Referee of the Year after becoming the first American to referee a knockout-rounds match at the World Cup.
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