Brandon Allen is 2016 USL Rookie of the Year

Brandon Allen scores goals. Many goals. He left Metuchen's Saint Joseph High School as all-time leading scorer. He left Georgetown as all-time leading scorer. And he finished 2016 as the all-time leading scorer for New York Red Bulls II.

He has been prolific at every level at which he has so far been tested. He even had the ball in the net during the seven minutes against Toronto FC this season that comprised his MLS debut - but that goal was offside.

In 2016, Allen's work has mostly been confined to USL. And it has been good work. As the season progressed, there was the impression that he was being asked to play a little further away from goal, working more to hold up or link play, but that did not greatly subdue his scoring touch. He scored 15 goals in the USL regular season and six in the playoffs. He started his rookie year as a pro with a brace (against TFC II) and finished it with a hat-trick in USL Cup.

He set a new USL record for goals by a rookie, made the league's end-of-year best XI selection, and was MVP of USL Cup.

He is, perhaps unsurprisingly, the 2016 USL Rookie of the Year.

Here's why @brandon10allen is the 2016 #USL Rookie of the Year pic.twitter.com/8XTX00gVjc

— USL (@USL) November 3, 2016