The New York Cosmos secured a third place finish in the 2017 NASL Spring Season. The Cosmos ended the season as one of three teams with a positive goal difference. The result did not come without great effort from the entire team as a whole, as well as from a number of players whose individual mastery has not gone unnoticed.

Here are the Cosmos' current top performers:


Most Minutes Played: Ryan Richter

In his second season with the club, Ryan Richter continues to be the pillar of the Cosmos back line. The only player to start 15 of 16 games for New York in the 2017 Spring Season, Richter has been a huge asset at right back. He leads the team in total clearances (41) as well as tackles won (26 out of 30). His solid defending caught the attention of the NASL, earning him four Team of the Week nods, the most of any Cosmos player in the Spring Season.

Richter was named to the NASL Team of the Month for June. He had the most duels won for a defender and the second most in the league in June (30), while also winning the most tackles during that period. The defender got on the scoreboard with a goal and two assists in the Spring Season.

 

Most Goals: Emmanuel Ledesma

The Cosmos' own goal machine, Emmanuel Ledesma has scored five goals in nine games for the club. Ledesma earned a plethora of NASL awards – three Team of the Week honors, two Play of the Week nods, and a Team of the Month award for May. He leads the league in chances created, with 31.

The Argentine midfielder became well known for netting in crucial, deciding goals. Debuting in a 1-0 win over San Francisco on April 29, Ledesma scored the lone goal, lifting a slowly rotating left-footed chip into the upper 90 in the 69th minute. The victory gave New York three points in their first-ever matchup against the Deltas and ended San Francisco's unbeaten streak. The stunning chip received a NASL Play of the Week nod for Week Six.

Another memorable goal earned Ledesma NASL Play of the Week honors for Week 13. With the Cosmos down a goal against Puerto Rico FC in Brooklyn, Ledesma turned the game around seven minutes after coming off the bench. The Argentine connected to a corner kick to pocket a magnificent 69th minute half-volley inside the far post, making the teams level at two goals apiece. The Cosmos went on to win the game 4-2.

 

Most Passes: Juan Guerra

When it comes to ball distribution, Juan Guerra has proven to be a reliable option. Guerra has passed the ball 610 times in the Spring Season, completing 83.9% of his passes. The Venezuelan midfielder's dependability earned him 14 starts of 14 games for the Cosmos, the second-most after Ryan Richter. Guerra also tallies two goals and an assist for the team.

Guerra earned NASL Team of the Week honors for Week 11 after scoring the game-winner in the Cosmos' 1-0 triumph over North Carolina FC on June 4.
 

Most Shots: Javi Márquez

The only Cosmos player to earn three consecutive NASL Team of the Week awards during the Spring Season, Javi Márquez gives the opposition's back line a run for their money. The Spaniard leads the team with a total of 26 shots.

Márquez opened his account for the Cosmos in Week Five, driving a low, left-footed shot in the 22nd minute to open the score in a 1-1 draw against Jacksonville Armada. His goal ended the Armada's shutout streak. In Week Six, the Spaniard assisted Emmanuel Ledesma's game-winner against the Deltas, rolling a diagonal pass to his teammate from the center circle in the 69th minute. In Week Seven, Márquez showcased his set piece prowess, opening the score in a 1-1 draw against the Armada from a 24th minute free kick.

Breakthrough Player: Eugene Starikov

Despite starting four of 10 games for the Cosmos in the Spring Season, forward, Eugene Starikov, has utilized every second he's had on the pitch. Never one to give the opposition a break, Starikov has created danger in the box time and again. He's proven to be an expert marksman, recording the most shots on target for the Cosmos (10) in the spring. The forward continues to impress, ending the season second in the team in shots with 20 after midfielder, Javi Márquez, while starting eight less games.

The Cosmos will host Miami FC in the inaugural game of the 2017 NASL Fall Season at MCU Park on Saturday, July 29 at 7:00 pm. Tickets are on sale now. For more information, click here.