Chicago Fire Forward Chris Rolfe Wins MLS Player of the Week in Final Week of MLS Regular Season
Published on October 27, 2008 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release
NEW YORK (Monday, Oct. 27, 2008) - Chicago Fire forward Chris Rolfe was voted Major League Soccer's Player of the Week for Week 31, the final week of the 2008 regular season. Rolfe scored three goals and added two assists in the Chicago Fire's 5-2 dismantling of the New York Red Bulls. Rolfe's first-half hat trick was the fifth in team history. The win gave the Fire (13-10-7, 46 points) the second seed in the East and home field advantage for their Eastern Conference Semifinal series with the New England Revolution.
Rolfe's scintillating performance began in the 11th minute when he finished off a quick counter attack by heading in a cross from teammate Stephen King. The Red Bulls pulled level in the 32nd minute, but Rolfe struck again in the 38th minute. Cuauhtemoc Blanco drove a corner kick into the box that was cleared just outside of the penalty area. Rolfe controlled the ball off his chest, and struck a full, 22-yard volley into the top left corner of the goal.
In the 44th minute, Blanco sent a back heel pass to a charging Rolfe, who collected the pass and calmly placed the ball inside the left post, avoiding oncoming Red Bull goalkeeper Danny Cepero. Rolfe's 33-minute hat trick was the second quickest in club history. Former Fire forward and current Chivas USA forward Ante Razov completed one in 23 minutes in 2006.
This is the first career Player of the Week award for Rolfe. Now in his fourth MLS season, the 25-year old from Kettering, Ohio has scored 30 career goals, and led the Fire with nine goals in 2008. Rolfe has made four appearances for the U.S. Men's National Team, recording one assist. Rolfe and the Fire will face the New England Revolution in the first leg of the Eastern Conference Semifinals on Thursday, Oct. 30. The game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET and will be televised on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes.
The Major League Soccer Player of the Week is selected each week of the MLS regular season by a panel of journalists from The North American Soccer Reporters (NASR). The group consists of members of print, television, radio and online media. More information and membership information can be found at http://www.soccerreporters.com/.
2008 Player of the Week Winners
Week 1: Terry Cooke (Colorado Rapids)
Week 2: David Beckham (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Week 3: Guillermo Barros Schelotto (Columbus Crew)
Week 4: Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Week 5: Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Week 6: David Beckham (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Week 7: Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew)
Week 8: Edson Buddle (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Week 9: Cuauhtémoc Blanco (Chicago Fire)
Week 10: Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake)
Week 11: Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo)
Week 12: Edson Buddle (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Week 13: Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Week 14: Steve Ralston (New England Revolution)
Week 15: Adam Cristman (New England Revolution)
Week 16: John Thorrington (Chicago Fire)
Week 17: Guillermo Barros Schelotto (Columbus Crew)
Week 18: Kenny Cooper (FC Dallas)
Week 19: Kenny Cooper (FC Dallas)
Week 20: Juan Pablo Angel (New York Red Bulls)
Week 21: Ronnie O'Brien (San Jose Earthquakes)
Week 22: Guillermo Barros Schelotto (Columbus Crew)
Week 23: Fabian Espindola (Real Salt Lake)
Week 24: Guillermo Barros Schelotto (Columbus Crew)
Week 25: Steve Ralston (New England Revolution)
Week 26: Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Week 27: Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids)
Week 28: Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo)
Week 29: Brian McBride (Chicago Fire)
Week 30: Claudio Lopez (Kansas City Wizards)
Week 31: Chris Rolfe (Chicago Fire)
Major League Soccer Stories from October 27, 2008
- Chivas USA Playoff Update - Club Deportivo Chivas USA
- Earthquakes Weekly Update - San Jose Earthquakes
- Chicago Fire Weekly Notes - Chicago Fire FC
- Kansas City Wizards Weekly Update - Sporting Kansas City
- Statements from Shalrie Joseph and the New England Revolution - New England Revolution
- Chicago Fire Announce 2008 Year-End Awards Recipients - Chicago Fire FC
- New York Red Bulls Weekly Update - New York Red Bulls
- Chicago Fire Forward Chris Rolfe Wins MLS Player of the Week in Final Week of MLS Regular Season - MLS
- Revs and Fire to open 2008 MLS Cup Playoffs on Thursday night at Gillette Stadium - New England Revolution
- 2008 MLS Cup Playoffs Schedule Announced - MLS
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