2014 Player of the Round

2014 US Open Cup Quarterfinals: Blas Perez’s hat trick sends FC Dallas to Semifinals, earns TheCup.us Player of the Round (video)

July 18, 2014 by Adam Uthe

Blas Perez scored the third hat trick in FC Dallas' US Open Cup history in a 5-2 win over the Carolina RailHawks. Photo: FC Dallas — Blas Perez scored the third hat trick in FC Dallas’ US Open Cup history in a 5-2 win over the Carolina RailHawks. Photo: FC Dallas

For the second time in the last three rounds, a Major League Soccer player has turned a hat trick into TheCup.us Player Of The Round honors.

Several weeks ago it was Deshorn Brown of the Colorado Rapids securing the honor in Round 4. This time, in the Quarterfinals, it was FC Dallas striker Blas Perez, who found the back of the net thrice to help his team come away from Cary, North Carolina with a 5-2 win over the NASL’s Carolina Railhawks.

The award is voted on by TheCup.us staff and a select panel from the North American Soccer Reporters.

In the voting, Perez pulled away from the field with Sebastien Le Toux’s record-breaking goal being the biggest threat. Blas’ teammate Fabian Castillo and Seattle Sounders midfielder Osvaldo Alonso also received votes.

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The final score didn’t necessarily reflect the game itself. Carolina actually drew first blood in the ninth minute. Perez’s first goal came in the 23rd minute, courtesy of rookie teammate Tesho Akindele, to level things up at one goal apiece. Perez’s second goal was also Dallas’s second. His 34th minute strike put the Hoops up 2-1. Carolina would equalize only to see Dallas net another and take a 3-2 lead into halftime. Perez’s final tally, which came during second half stoppage time, wasn’t the game-winner but it did seal the deal.

Perez became the first Panamanian player in the Modern Professional Era (1995-present) and the third FC Dallas player to score three goals in a single game, joining Dallas fan favorites Bobby Rhine (1999) and Kenny Cooper (2006). The first question Perez received after the game was how it felt to score the hat trick, but he was quick to talk about the team’s win.

“Happy, first of all, for the win because it’s what the team wanted, what the team was looking for.”

Perez had been experiencing a bit of drought coming into the game and was asked if he felt his hard work, despite not scoring, had finally been validated.

“When you work hard, the goals are going to come. The most important thing is if I don’t score, I put in the work.”

Perez has been somewhat underappreciated by MLS in general ever since he arrived in 2012, but it’s easy to see why the 33-year-old veteran is held in such high regard among the fans in Dallas. This was his first hat trick for FC Dallas in any competition.

Dallas, who clinched their eighth US Open Cup semifinal berth, will travel to Philadelphia to face the Union on August 12.

2014 TheCup.us Player of the Round winners
Round 1: Vlad Baciu (RWB Adria – USASA)
Round 2: Luke Winter (Chattanooga FC – NPSL)
Round 3: Earl Edwards Jr. (PSA Elite – USASA)
Round 4: Deshorn Brown (Colorado Rapids – MLS)
Round 5: Scott Goodwin (Carolina RailHawks – NASL)
Quarterfinals: Blas Perez (FC Dallas – MLS)

HIGHLIGHTS: FC DALLAS AT CAROLINA RAILHAWKS

MATCH REPLAY: FC DALLAS AT CAROLINA RAILHAWKS

2014 US Open Cup Round 5: Scott Goodwin of Carolina RailHawks shuts out LA Galaxy, earns TheCup.us Player of the Round (video)

July 7, 2014 by Grant Czubinski

Carolina Railhawks goalkeeper Scott Goodwin saves the shot of Los Angeles Galaxy forward Landon Donovan. Photo: Carolina RailHawks — Carolina Railhawks goalkeeper Scott Goodwin saves a shot taken by Los Angeles Galaxy forward Landon Donovan. Photo: Carolina RailHawks

Scott Goodwin, the Carolina Railhawks’ rookie backup goalkeeper is using the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup tournament as his own personal coming-out party, and quickly proving he deserves first team minutes in the process.

After leading the RailHawks to victories in the US Open Cup’s Third and Fourth Round, the University of North Carolina graduate put in the finest shift of his young professional career in a 1-0 victory over the visiting Los Angeles Galaxy in Cary, NC. The victory sends the NASL club through to the Quarterfinals for the third time, and earned Goodwin TheCup.us Player of the Round honors. Goodwin becomes the second goalkeeper (PSA Elite’s Earl Edwards Jr.) to earn the award in 2014.

The award is voted on by TheCup.us staff and a select panel from the North American Soccer Reporters.

Goodwin ran away with the award due to his admirable poise and netminding against the Galaxy, who fielded a mostly first-choice team in their attempt to avoid a third straight upset to the second division side. Goodwin’s Player of the Round snub last round made the Railhawks goalkeeper’s performance hard to ignore this time around, as he clearly outpaced the other star performers of the Fifth Round. The Philadelphia Union’s Sebastien Le Toux record-tying brace and the Chicago Fire’s Juan Luis Anangono‘s impressive work off the bench received considerable attention, but ultimately did not garner enough votes to snatch the award way from Goodwin. The Portland Timbers’ Gaston Fernandez also received several votes for his two goals against Sporting Kansas City.

Goodwin proved the difference in the Railhawks matchup against the Galaxy, who gave Robbie Keane his first-ever US Open Cup start. Under siege the entire game from Los Angeles, Goodwin faced 30 shots and saved all eight shots on goal of them in 120 minutes of work ensuring the RailHawks a third consecutive victory over the Galaxy in Open Cup play.

“It was a really exciting game, I really can’t be more proud of my teammates,” said Goodwin. “I think everyone just put out an incredible effort to keep the ball out and maintain our composure and took advantage of the opportunity we had, so you really have to give it up to them.”

In a first half dominated by the Galaxy, Goodwin continually snuffed out the MLS club’s attacks leading the RailHawks into the half level with Los Angeles 0-0. All Goodwin did in the second half was put on a performance that proved he belonged in net by saving shots from Landon Donovan in the 84th minute and Robbie Keane in the 90th.

The Raleigh native held steadfast in extra time as well. After Daniel Jackson put the Railhawks up 1-0 in the 105th minute, Goodwin held off a continued Galaxy onslaught. Goodwin made another save against Keane in the 117th, which proved to be enough to make Jackson’s strike the game-winner.

“I thought I had a good solid game,” Goodwin said about his performance. “Any time you keep a shutout against guys like that, the majority has to really be put on the guys in front of me, but I felt that I had a solid game.”

The Railhawks game against the Galaxy was just Goodwin’s third game as a pro. The UNC standout and 2011 College Cup champion made his Carolina debut during the club’s Open Cup Third Round game against the Charlotte Eagles (USL Pro) after signing with the NASL club in January and spending a season in Iceland with IF Hottur.

In his American professional debut, all Goodwin did was make five saves and record a shutout in the Railhawks’ 2-0 win over the Eagles. Goodwin’s performance coupled with an injury to starting goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald saw the Chapel Hill product claim his second consecutive start in this year’s tournament when the Railhawks met Chivas USA in the Fourth Round. Goodwin built upon his fine performance against Charlotte guiding the Railhawks to another win after making 11 saves in 120 minutes of work capped by three additional saves in the game’s penalty shootout nearly earning Player of the Round honors in the process. Deshorn Brown’s hat-trick performance against Orlando City SC ultimately captured the award for the Fourth Round.

Goodwin’s pair of outstanding performances more than earned him a chance to take on a full strength Galaxy team. His play against Los Angeles and his string of performances are sure to catch the attention of clubs throughout the country.

“It’s about as good of a start as I could have hoped for,” Goodwin said. “In professional sports, you’re just waiting for your opportunity and you never know when that’s going to happen. What it’s really all about is getting as far as we can in the Open Cup, it’s not about any one individual. We went into this tournament not to just win a couple games, but to take it all the way to the end. At the end of the day, my performance is just a piece of the puzzle and we’re just trying to get on to the next round.”

Goodwin and the Railhawks will look to continue their run in the tournament when they host FC Dallas on July 9 in Cary.

Recent Goalkeepers to win TheCup.us Player of the Round
2014 Round 5: Scott Goodwin (Carolina RailHawks – NASL)
2014 Round 3: Earl Edwards Jr. (PSA Elite – USASA)
2013 Final: Bill Hamid (DC United – MLS)
2013 Semifinals: Joe Willis (DC United – MLS)
2011 Quarterfinals: Ronnie Pascale (Richmond Kickers – USL PRO)
2011 Round 1: Zach Lubin (Kitsap Pumas – PDL)
2010 Round 3: Tim Melia (Charleston Battery – USL-2)
2009 Tournament MVP: Kasey Keller (Seattle Sounders FC – MLS)
2008 Tournament MVP: Chris Eylander (Seattle Sounders – USL-1)
2008 Quarterfinals: Chris Eylander (Seattle Sounders – USL-1)
2006 Round 3: Jesse Llamas (Dallas Roma FC – USASA)

HIGHLIGHTS: LA GALAXY AT CAROLINA RAILHAWKS

MATCH REPLAY: LA GALAXY AT CAROLINA RAILHAWKS

2014 US Open Cup Round 4: Deshorn Brown scores first Colorado Rapids hat trick, narrowly wins Player of the Round

June 24, 2014 by Grant Czubinski

Deshorn Brown not only scored the first hat trick in Rapids Open Cup history, he also became the first Jamaican to score three goals since 1995. Photo: Garrett W. Ellwood, Colorado Rapids

Deshorn Brown knows how to find the back of the net. That is undebatable. The highly-decorated collegiate striker and 2013 MLS Rookie of the Year runner-up continued to show he has a penchant for goal in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup’s Fourth Round netting a hat trick in the Colorado Rapids’ 5-2 victory over Orlando City SC (USL PRO). Brown’s performance proved worthy of TheCup.us Player of the Round Award for the tournament’s Fourth Round.

The award is voted on by TheCup.us staff and a select panel from the North American Soccer Reporters.

Brown’s hat trick garnered just enough votes for the award as the Jamaican international barely edged out a couple of strong upset performances by NASL players like New York Cosmos forward Mads Stokkelien and Carolina Railhawks goalkeeper Scott Goodwin for the honor. The Atlanta Silverbacks’ Kwadwo Poku and Philadelphia Union’s Andrew Wenger both received a considerable amount of votes in one of the most wide open votes of 2014.

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Brown was at the center of a dominating offensive performance as the Rapids out-shot Orlando City SC 23-6. The Lions, who have been one of the strongest USL PRO teams since joining the league in 2011, entered the tournament undefeated in league play.

After giving up an early goal, Brown responded with an equalizer in the 35th minute. Just after halftime, Brown completed the hat trick with two goals in eight minutes (47th, 55th mins.) as the route was on with a 4-1 lead.

The second-year forward has also found the scoring touch during the month of June scoring three goals in as many games in MLS play, scored his first professional hat trick during the second half of the Rapids game against Orlando. In addition to bagging his first professional hat trick, Brown also became the first Colorado Rapids player to score three goals in Open Cup play and also became the first Jamaican to achieve the feat in an Open Cup game in the tournament’s Modern Professional Era (1995-present).

For those who are familiar with Brown, his performance should come as no surprise. The University of Mobile and University of Central Florida striker was selected sixth overall in the 2013 MLS Draft amid high expectations. Many believe he should have been selected higher. Brown proved why during the 2013 MLS campaign scoring a team-leading and rookie-best 10 goals while adding four assists in 31 games making headlines along the way.

The Jamaican has continued to prove he is a danger in front of goal and is fast becoming one of the biggest offensive threats in MLS. Aside from his record-setting hat trick, Brown has scored five goals in 14 games this MLS season. Brown’s penchant for goal earned him MLS Player of the Week honors for the league’s 13th week after he scored twice in the Rapids’ 3-0 victory over the Houston Dynamo on June 1.

The Rapids will surely be looking to make a deep run in this year’s tournament. If Brown’s performance against Orlando is any indication, the Colorado club has a chance to make some real waves in MLS play and in the Open Cup when the Jamaican striker is in form.

2014 US Open Cup Second Round: Luke Winter’s brace helps Chattanooga FC to historic win, earns TheCup.us Player of the Round

May 26, 2014 by Grant Czubinski

Luke Winter added to his growing list of achievements as his two goals propelled Chattanooga FC to a historic US Open Cup win in Round 2. By defeating the Wilmington Hammerheads 3-1 on May 14, the Tennessee club became the first NPSL side to register a win against professional competition. Prior to CFC’s victory, NPSL clubs were 0-15-0 against professional teams. Winter’s role in the significant victory earned him TheCup.us Player of the Round Award for the 2014 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup’s Second Round.

The award is voted on by TheCup.us staff and a select panel from the North American Soccer Reporters.

With a slate of Modern Pro Era record 23 games on the schedule for the Second Round of the tournament there were bound to be some standout performances. The teams and players involved did not disappoint with as many as 13 different players receiving votes for the award.

The wide open vote came down to Winter and four other players: Heviel Cordoves (Charleston Battery), Darius Madison (Reading United AC), Alfredo Rodriguez (North Texas Rayados) and Josh Trott (NY Greek American Atlas). In the end, Winter’s historic brace was enough to separate himself from the pack to earn Player of the Round honors.

Winter also makes a little individual history as he joins Gustavo Villalobos of FC Hasental (2013 Preliminary Round) as the only two NPSL players to ever win Player of the Round.

Photo: Chattanooga FC

Winter could do no wrong during his shift against Wilmington. In his time of the field, he proved more than a handful for the Hammerheads defense. The CFC forward took advantage of a poorly executed Wilmington offside trap to volley home his first goal of the game in the 21st minute. From there his night only got better. In the 63th minute, taking advantage of a Wilmington team down a man, Winter headed in a scintillating cross from Luis Trude. The goal proved to be the game winner as Chattanooga became the first Tennessee club to win a tournament game since the PDL’s Memphis Express in 2002.

“It was a great team performance,” said Winter. “Everything worked well together and things just clicked for us. I scored two goals but both assists were spot on, making it easier for me.

“Now we’re eyeing up and can’t wait for the challenge,” he added.

Winter is no stranger to producing award-winning performances. The Norwich, England native scored three consecutive hat tricks in NPSL play in 2012, and racked up multiple awards during his collegiate career at Tennessee Wesleyan University. In addition to his TheCup.us Player of the Round Award, Winter also received considerable attention for NPSL National Player of the Week honors for the week of May 12-18. Ultimately, FC Buffalo’s Russell Cicerone forward edged out the CFC forward for the award.

Winter is also familiar with, and up to, the level of play in the US Open Cup, notching a goal and an assist in CFC’s loss to the Carolina Dynamo (PDL) in the first round of last year’s tournament. His brace against Wilmington provided a victory that mollified the sting of CFC’s two previous first round exits to professional opponents in 2011 and 2013, and helped the club earn the first victory for a Tennessee club since 2002 (Memphis Express – PDL)

2014 TheCup.us Player of the Round winners
Round 1: Vlad Baciu (RWB Adria – USASA)
Round 2: Luke Winter (Chattanooga FC – NPSL)

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

FULL MATCH REPLAY

2014 US Open Cup Round 1: Vlad Baciu’s brace for RWB Adria earns him TheCup.us Player of the Round

May 13, 2014 by Grant Czubinski

Vlad Baciu of RWB Adria celebrates his first half goal against Detroit City FC in the opening round of the 2014 US Open Cup. — Vlad Baciu of RWB Adria (left in white) celebrates his first half goal against Detroit City FC in the opening round of the 2014 US Open Cup. Photo: Ivan Ratkovic-Baric | adriacreative.co

Vlad Baciu’s second goal of the game came in second half stoppage time and helped RWB Adria (USASA) force overtime against NPSL side Detroit City FC. The match eventually went to penalty kicks where the Croatian club won 3-1 to advance past Detroit and into the second round for the first time in the tournament’s Modern Professional Era. Baciu’s outstanding performance buoyed Adria, earning him enough votes to be named TheCup.us Player of the Round for the competition’s first round.

The award is voted on by TheCup.us staff and a select panel from the North American Soccer Reporters.

Coming a close second for the honor was Alencar Junior, who scored two goals for Western Mass Pioneers (PDL) in its 4-1 victory over GPS Massachusetts (USASA). Jose Preciado of PSA Elite (USASA) also received several votes for his equalizer and game-winning PK against PDL side Los Angeles Misioneros.

Baciu won the award due to his undeniable knack for goal. Adria’s target man made Adria’s trip to suburban Detroit worthwhile, putting his club ahead in the 16th minute heading in a corner kick. He then proved a penchant for drama as he coolly netted his second goal of the game in the dying minutes of stoppage time to send the game to extra-time, and eventually penalty kicks. The award is Baciu’s first and the first his club has ever received.

“My performance was the result of a hard-working team, a great group of teammates who enjoy playing together and a great staff and support group,” said Baciu about his performance. “We all had fun and we are ready for the next game. We are going back to Detroit to win, it’s in our DNA.

He added: “I also want to praise Detroit City FC and their fans, they created a great atmosphere.”

Adria, coming off their championship National Soccer League (Chicago) Indoor Season before the first round cup-tie, came into the game as underdogs, but Baciu would have none of it. His brace provided some vindication for Adria’s after their first round exit to the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in penalty kicks last year.

Baciu’s two goals put him atop the tournament’s scoring leaders alongside Western Mass Pioneers players, Alencar Junior and Will Daniels, and seem to have set a solid foundation for the Romanian’s next game against the Michigan Bucks (PDL) on Wednesday at 7:30 in Pontiac, Mich.