MLS Sporting Kansas City

Wizards Striker Josh Wolff Voted MLS Player of the Week

Published on April 20, 2009 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release


Kansas City Wizards forward Josh Wolff has been honored with his 6th career MLS Player of the Week award for his two-goal performance Saturday. The Wizards came back from a two-goal deficit after Wolff scored his first two goals of the 2009 season late in Saturday's contest against the Chicago Fire, Wolff's former team. Wolff now has 64 career goals, ranking 16th all-time in MLS. He also ranks 9th in career goals among active MLS players.

"It's always nice to received an individual honor like this," Wolff said. "Our team showed a great will to win, pushing forward those last 15 minutes. The important thing from Saturday was that we worked hard for each other to get a point out of the match. Now we look forward to coming back home and playing well in front of our fans Thursday against New York."

Wolff started Kansas City's comeback in the 78th minute after Claudio Lopez stepped in to steal a Chicago pass on the left flank, then immediately sidestepped a hard-charging defender. Lopez quickly hit a bending ball to the back post on his next touch, connecting with Wolff who was completing a 35-yard run out of midfield. Wolff slid to volley home a shot from the top of the six-yard area to bring the Wizards within a goal.

The Wizards continued to push, eventually pulling level in the 89th minute with another spectacular effort from Wolff. Lopez again began the play, pushing the ball wide right for Michael Harrington 25 yards off the end line. Harrington sent in a perfectly placed, bending cross behind Chicago's defense. Wolff ran onto the ball, heading it into the net from between two Fire defenders for his 8th career two-goal game and his 5th career tally against Chicago. After the two-goal effort, Wolff moved past Mo Johnston into 4th place on Kansas City's career goals list with 32 scores in a Wizards uniform.

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.

Wolff and the Wizards return home this Thursday, April 23 for a match against the New York Red Bulls at 7 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast live nationally on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes. The first 5,000 fans into CommunityAmerica Ballpark Thursday will receive a Jimmy Conrad bobblehead, and all fans will receive thundersticks, both courtesy of match sponsor Time Warner Cable. IRL and NASCAR Truck Series drivers will be on hand to mingle with fans and sign autographs before the game, and a B2 Bomber from Whiteman Air Force Base will fly over the stadium just prior to kickoff. For information on the limited number of tickets remaining, contact the Wizards at (913) 387-3400, go online to www.kcwizards.com or contact any Ticketmaster outlet.

2009 MLS PLAYER OF THE WEEK WINNERS

WEEK 1: Fredy Montero (Seattle Sounders FC)

WEEK 2: Kasey Keller (Seattle Sounders FC)

WEEK 3: Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids)

WEEK 4: Donovan Ricketts (Los Angeles Galaxy)

WEEK 5: Josh Wolff (Kansas City Wizards)

WOLFF PLAYER OF THE WEEK AWARDS

Year Week Team

1998 27 Chicago Fire

2002 17 Chicago Fire

2005 7 Kansas City Wizards

2005 20 Kansas City Wizards

2006 27 Kansas City Wizards

2009 5 Kansas City Wizards

Check out the Sporting Kansas City Statistics

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Major League Soccer Stories from April 20, 2009


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