Sports stats



MLS Major League Soccer

Houston Forward Will Bruin Voted MLS Player of the Week

May 2, 2011 - Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


NEW YORK (Monday, May 2, 2011) - Houston Dynamo forward Will Bruin was voted Major League Soccer Player of the Week by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) for Week 7 of the 2011 MLS season. Bruin scored a hat trick in the Dynamo's 4-1 victory over D.C. United. Bruin becomes the first player of 2011 to record a hat trick and the first rookie this season to be named Player of the Week. See the full match highlights HERE.

Bruin put the Dynamo ahead in the fourth minute after Geoff Cameron stole the ball in the D.C. half. Cameron slotted a pass behind the D.C. backline, putting in Bruin alone to face goalkeeper Bill Hamid. Bruin coolly fired a low shot inside the near-post for the 1-0 lead.

With the game tied 1-1 in the 41st minute, Cameron sent Brad Davis into the left corner with a through ball. Reaching the ball just before it reached the end line, Davis delivered a curling cross to Bruin, who beat his marker for an emphatic header into the net.

In the 57th minute, Bruin connected on another Davis cross to complete his hat trick. This time Davis' pinpoint service came from a free kick on the left flank. In a crowded penalty area, Bruin timed his leap perfectly and smashed a header just beneath the crossbar, offering Hamid no chance.

Bruin was selected 11th overall by Houston at the 2011 MLS SuperDraft after scoring 33 goals in 66 games over three seasons at Indiana University. He was a finalist for the M.A.C. Hermann Award as a junior.

Bruin has four goals this season for Houston and is the fourth rookie in MLS history to score a hat trick; Brian Maisonneuve, Pat Noonan, and Zack Schilawski are the others. Bruin is the second youngest player in League history to score a hat trick (21 years, 187 days - 17 days older than Stern John was in 1998).

The MLS Player of the Week is selected each week of the regular season by a panel of journalists from 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/.

PREVIOUS MLS PLAYER OF THE WEEK WINNERS

Week 7: Will Bruin (Houston Dynamo)

Week 6: Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy)

Week 5: Luke Rodgers (New York Red Bulls)

Week 4: David Ferreira (FC Dallas)

Week 3: Camilo (Vancouver Whitecaps)

Week 2: Javier Morales (Real Salt Lake)

Week 1: Omar Bravo (Sporting Kansas City)

AT&T Goal of the Week nominees, according to MLSsoccer.com

Fans and media members can submit votes via text to 22442 for any of these five strikes:

Omar Salgado, VAN vs. CLB (text G1)

Marcos Mondaini, CHV vs. NE (text G2)

Brek Shea, DAL vs. LA (text G3)

Andre Akpan, COL vs. CHI (text G4)

Fabian Castillo, DAL vs. LA (text G5)

Each week's winner, determined by the total number of votes cast online and via text, is posted on Fridays.

Check out the Major League Soccer Statistics



Major League Soccer Stories from May 2, 2011


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central