MLS Colorado Rapids

Rapids' Conor Casey wins MLS Player of the Week honors

Published on August 10, 2009 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Colorado Rapids News Release


NEW YORK (Monday, August 10, 2009) - Colorado Rapids forward Conor Casey was voted Major League Soccer's Player of the Week for Week 21 of the 2009 season. Casey tallied three first-half goals for his second hat trick of the season to propel the Rapids to a 4-0 victory over Chivas USA last Saturday night. The victory improved the Rapids record to 8-6-6 with 30 points and gave them sole possession of third place in the Western Conference.

This is Casey's fourth MLS Player of the Week award and third this season. The first two MLS Player of the Week awards won by Casey coincided with his first and second career three-goal games, Week 27 of the 2008 season and Week 3 of the 2009 season, the other coming in Week 11 of this year when Casey tallied two goals in the Rapids 3-2 victory over the New York Red Bulls.

Rapids midfielder Pablo Mastroeni gave the club an early lead scoring just 26 seconds into the game. Mastroeni's goal, the sixth-fastest in MLS history, was his first goal in four years and only the fourth goal of his 12-year MLS career. The scintillating strike from Mastroeni fired up the Rapids and provided the setting for a night dominated by Casey and the Rapids.

Casey tallied his first goal of the night just three minutes after Mastroeni's strike. Off a throw-in, Colorado Rapids forward Omar Cummings flicked the ball over the Chivas USA defense to Casey who controlled the ball and sent a delicate lob with his instep over Chivas USA goalkeeper Lance Parker. The shot caught Parker off his line and was placed just out of his reach as it caromed off the underside of the cross bar and into the goal.

Cummings found his strike partner again in the 23rd minute. Taking a deep lob from midfielder Kosuke Kimura in the Chivas USA half, Cummings dribbled down the right side of the field and into the Chivas USA penalty area before sending a pass across the goalmouth. Casey charged in behind the defense and redirected the ball into the goal at the back post for his second tally of the game.

Casey finished off the first half in grand fashion completing the hat trick in added time from the penalty spot. The spot kick was set up when Cummings was pulled down in the penalty area by Chivas USA defender Shavar Thomas. Casey stepped up and coolly chipped the ball over Parker, who dove left and was helpless to stop Casey's effort from floating into the net.

Casey, who missed the last two games due to injury and suspension for caution accumulation, scored his first goal since May 23. The hat trick, Casey's second of the season and third of his career, gave the Rapids front runner the lead in the Budweiser Golden Boot Race with 11 goals, one more then Guillermo Barros Schelotto (10). Three others are tied with nine goals a piece. Through 14 games, Casey has equaled his 2008 goal total and previous career-best of 11 goals. Casey's impressive season has led to a call-up with the United States national team as they prepare to take on Mexico Wednesday, Aug. 12 in a World Cup qualifier.

Casey and the third place Rapids have a bye week before facing the Chicago Fire at Toyota Park on Sunday, Aug. 23 at 4 p.m. 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.

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