by New York, NY — San Jose Earthquakes forward Chris Wondolowski (Kiowa Tribe) was voted the Major League Soccer Player of the Week for Week 19 on Monday. This marks the second time this season Wondo has earned MLS Player of the Week, he accomplished his first honor on Week 9.
Wondolowski earned the honor after he scored a hat trick and assisted on another goal in a 5-0 demolition of Real Salt Lake on Saturday. The San Jose striker tallied his first goal after 18 minutes and then doubled his count in the 72nd to make it 3-0 to the ‘Quakes before completing the hat trick eight minutes later.
Wondolowski currently sits at 17 goals through 20 games, which puts him on pace for 29 for the season. If he were to reach 29, it would set a new single-season record by surpassing the old mark of 27.
The MLS Player of the Week award is selected each week by the North American Soccer Reporters. The group consists of members of online, print, television, radio media.
2012 MLS Player of the Week winners:
Week 1: Kalif Alhassan (Portland Timbers)
Week 2: David Estrada (Seattle Sounders FC)
Week 3: Thierry Henry (Red Bull New York)
Week 4: Thierry Henry (Red Bull New York)
Week 5: Thierry Henry (Red Bull New York)
Week 6: Dan Kennedy (Chivas USA)
Week 7: Chris Pontius (D.C. United)
Week 8: Steven Lenhart (San Jose Earthquakes)
Week 9: Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)
Week 10: Lee Nguyen (New England Revolution)
Week 11: Dwayne De Rosario (D.C. United)
Week 12: Emilio Renteria (Columbus Crew)
Week 13-15: Patrice Bernier (Montreal Impact)
Week 16: Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Week 17: Danny Koevermans (Toronto FC)
Week 18: Alvaro Saborio (Real Salt Lake)
Week 19: Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)
