Well, Michael Boxall, it appears to be happening against your wishes.
The Minnesota United captain is the second-highest vote-getter among center backs for the MLS All-Star Game in Austin, Texas, on July 23. Boxall is behind only Vancouver’s Tristan Blackmon at that position, the league shared Wednesday.
Players often want honors and the praise that comes with them, but that does not include Boxall, despite the fact that the 10-year veteran has never appeared in an MLS All-Star Game.
MNUFC’s get-out-the-vote campaign for Boxall has been in full swing for a week — even if the gruff Kiwi didn’t give it his blessing.
“I want zero extra attention,” Boxall said about the Loons’ social media posts after Minnesota’s scoreless draw with first-place Vancouver last week.
But the Loons’ overall success gives the push for Boxall’s candidacy. MNUFC sits in second place in the Western Conference on the back of its league-leading eight shutouts.
Boxall, who is fourth in MLS in clearances (112), is looking to the fall, not the midsummer showcase in Texas.
“Midseason awards: it’s not why we play this game,” he said. “I think you want to be up for the awards at the end of the season. So we just need to keep pushing and make sure we are improving.”
The Loons’ stout defense has also boosted the chances that goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair makes his second all-star appearance. After making it in 2022 — when it was held at Allianz Field — St. Clair had a much more expected answer when asked about his chances this season.
“I think I’ve been one of the top goalies so far … this year, and it would be a great achievement not just for myself but for the team,” he said last week. “It’s definitely something that I’d like to be a part of, and I’m showing to definitely be in the conversation and be on that final roster.”
St. Clair comes in second among ‘keepers behind only Orlando’s Pedro Gallese as of Wednesday morning.
No other Loons were among the top five vote-getters at the league’s seven different positions.
A case can be made for forward Tani Oluwaseyi, who ranks Top 10 in MLS with eight goals, and attacking midfielder Joaquin Pereyra, tied for fourth with seven total assists.
Fellow attacking mid Robin Lod was the Loons’ lone all-star last season, but a repeat showing is a long shot. Lod stacked up 22 goal contributions (seven goals and 15 total assists) last season, but has only six (two goals and four total assists) so far this year.
But most important for MNUFC, Lod notched a goal and an assist in the Loons’ best win of the season, 3-2 over Seattle on Sunday.
“I’m sure (Lod) would much rather be kind of replicating how he started last year stats-wise, but we know we’ve got players (for whom) things aren’t going to show up statistically. But we respect the effort,” Boxall said. “For example, Dayne has got a bunch of clean sheets, but Tani — the front guys — are working their (tails) off to help that out.”
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