Wizards Burciaga Jr. Named MLS Player of the Month
July 5, 2006 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release
KANSAS CITY, MO (Wednesday, July 5, 2006) - Kansas City Wizards defender Jose Luis Burciaga Jr. was named Major League Soccer's June Player of the Month. The monthly award is Burciaga Jr.'s first of his career and runs the Wizards' streak to four consecutive seasons in which they have had a player recognized as the league's player of the month.
Currently leading the team with five goals on the season, Burciaga Jr. scored four of them in the Wizards' five June games. All but one of his goals this season have been the deciding factor in a Kansas City result as he is currently tied for third in MLS with three game-winning goals to go with his one game-tying goal.
"It is an honor to be recognized for all of the work that I've done," said Burciaga Jr., "but ultimately I just want our team to do well, that is what it boils down to. Coach [Gansler] said that the last two months were going to be crucial [with the Wizards' three players gone at the World Cup] and that we all had to step up. I am thankful for the award and to be recognized for what I have done, but again I just want our team to win."
In June, Burciaga Jr. provided the deciding goal in each of Kansas City's games during its three-game undefeated streak to start the month. He began his hot streak with a penalty kick that fooled Red Bulls goalkeeper Tony Meola on June 3rd to tie the game at 1-1. On June 10th, the Texas native headed home the Wizards' game-winning goal in the 89th minute against the Columbus Crew to become the first defender in four years to score goals in consecutive games. He followed up his late-game heroics in Columbus with another 89th minute game-winning goal on June 17th against the Chicago Fire to run his scoring streak to three games. He closed out the month of June with his fourth goal in five games, putting away the Wizards' second goal against D.C. United on June 28th.
Wizards forward Scott Sealy was named player of the month for August last season. Former Wizard and current Real Salt Lake midfielder Chris Klein received the honor for June in 2004. And Kansas City's all-time leading goal-scorer Preki was named player of the month for May in 2003 to begin the streak of four straight years.
Former Wizards Miklos Molnar and Tony Meola were each recognized as one of MLS's players of the month in 2000, making Burciaga Jr. the sixth overall Wizard to receive the honor.
The Major League Soccer Player of the Month is selected each month of the MLS regular season by a panel of journalists from the Professional Soccer Reporters Association (PSRA).
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- Wizards Burciaga Jr. Named MLS Player of the Month - Sporting Kansas City
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