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Pontius tapped as player of the week
D.C. United have registered a hat trick.
For the third consecutive week, a D.C. United attacker has claimed Player of the Week honors, as voted on by the North American Soccer Reporters. After two straight weeks of honors for Dwayne De Rosario, winger Chris Pontius got into the act this week.
The 24-year-old scored two goals in DC’s 4-0 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps, which helped United continue their rise up the Eastern Conference standings.
The third-year player opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time, knocking home a pass from De Rosario. He put the result out of reach with the game’s third goal in the 70th minute, pouncing on a deflected Stephen King shot.
Pontius, who has a career-high seven goals on the season, earned eight of 16 first-place votes among the media ballots with teammates Willis and De Rosario also receiving consideration. Toronto FC goalkeeper Milos Kocic earned the second most first-place votes with four.
It’s the second career Player of the Week award for Pontius after earning the honor in Week 12 of last year.
It’s not the first time that a club has claimed three straight Player of the Week awards and the all-time mark is set at four, when the expansion Chicago Fire claimed four straight weeks of honors between Week 14 and Week 17 in 1998.
CSN Vote: I have to disagree. The ColoradoSoccerNow.com vote went to Sebastien Le Toux for his overall excellent play and cool delivery of two penalty kicks that rescued a point for Philadelphia.
The second went to a different D.C. United player. Joe Willis, the third-string keeper, earned six saves and a clean sheet in D.C.’s win over Vancouver. Coming on to handle a team and facing that many chances deserved consideration.
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