The following is a press release from Columbus Crew SC Communications.
COLUMBUS – Columbus Crew SC announced that midfielder Ethan Finlay was voted Major League Soccer Player of the Week by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) for Week Eight of the 2015 MLS season.
Finlay, 24, captures the award on the heels of a two-goal, one-assist performance against the Philadelphia Union that helped fuel the Black & Gold’s 4-1 victory on Saturday, April 25. It was the former Creighton Bluejay’s first-ever multi-goal match in MLS.
Finlay helped open the scoring against the Union with an assist on Kei Kamara’s 21st-minute tally with a cross from the right flank. 11 minutes later, Finlay would double the Black & Gold lead with a one-touch, right-footed finish following service from Waylon Francis.
In the 73rd minute, the midfielder would register his brace after receiving a through ball from Kamara and slotting past goalkeeper John McCarthy for Crew SC’s fourth goal of the night.
The pair of goals gave Finlay 13 tallies since his first MLS strike on May 17, 2014 in Portland. Over that span, only six other League players have more goals (Bradley Wright-Phillips, Obafemi Marins, Dominic Dwyer, Gyasi Zardes, Robbie Keane, Lee Nguyen).
Finlay also has 11 career assists, with all coming since May 31, 2014. Only three other League players have exceeded Finlay’s total in that category over the same span (Landon Donovan, Marcelo Sarvas, Pedro Morales). Finlay’s four assists in 2015 rank second in the League, trailing only Sporting Kansas City’s Benny Feilhaber (five).
In all, the midfielder has recorded at least one goal or one assist in 19 of his last 30 regular-season contests.
The Black & Gold return to action with a road test at RFK Stadium on Saturday, May 2nd when Crew SC takes on D.C. United at 7:00 p.m. ET (Time Warner Cable SportsChannel).
The MLS Player of the Week is selected each week of the regular season by a panel of journalists from the 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.
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