MLS Colorado Rapids

Rapids Conor Casey Wins MLS Player of the Week Award for Week 11

Published on June 1, 2009 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Colorado Rapids News Release


NEW YORK (Monday, June 1, 2009) - Colorado Rapids forward Conor Casey was voted Major League Soccer's Player of the Week for Week 11 of the 2009 season. Casey scored two goals in the Rapids' 3-2 road win over the New York Red Bulls on Saturday, May 30, helping the Rapids extend their unbeaten streak to five games.

Casey's pair of goals put him in the lead of the tightly contested Budweiser Golden Boot race with eight goals in 10 games. Five players trail him with six goals apiece. The imposing 6-foot, 1-inch forward scored both goals off headers, taking his headed-goal tally to four this season.

The 27-year-old striker broke the game's deadlock in the 25th minute when he nodded home Colin Clark's floated cross at the far post. The Red Bulls, who were completing a four-game homestand, responded with Juan Pablo Angel's penalty kick to tie the game before halftime. Casey then added a go-ahead score in the 48th minute, this time splitting two defenders to get in front of Red Bulls goalkeeper Jon Conway before directing Omar Cummings' curling pass into the net. Rapids teammate Mehdi Ballouchy added a penalty kick goal in the 60th minute before Danleigh Borman pulled one back for the hosts in the 73rd minute.

Casey now has goals in each of Colorado's past three games. He also continues his dangerous form in New York, tallying five goals in his past two visits to Giants Stadium. On Sept. 27, 2008 he scored a hat-trick in the Rapids' 5-4 win, which earned him MLS Player of the Week honors for Week 27 of the 2008 season.

Casey, a Denver native who attended South High School, led Colorado in scoring last season with 11 goals in 21 appearances - the most goals in a season by a Rapids player since 2005 - despite missing nine games through injury.

This is his third-career Player of the Week award and his second this season. He earned the honor in Week 3 following his hat-trick against the Los Angeles Galaxy. In 48 career MLS appearances, Casey has 23 goals. He has been capped nine times for the U.S. National Team.

Casey and the Rapids next play this Saturday, June 6 when they take their Rocky Mountain Cup rivals Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah. The match will be televised nationally on Fox Soccer Channel; kickoff is set for 8 pm MT.

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.

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