1. A.J. DeLaGarza (Los Angeles)

Omar Gonzalez might deserve to be up here but the two handballs in five minutes thing irked me. DeLaGarza, along with Gonzalez, has been real consistent as of late and shut down Jorge Rojas throughout the majority of the Galaxy's road win. I'm starting to get to a point where I feel less guilty about putting Galaxy newcomers on this list, could it be that they're playoff and maybe even gasp! - MLS Cup - material?

2. Donovan Ricketts (Los Angeles)

Just because the Galaxy went up 3-0 on the Red Bulls even before halftime doesn't mean that Ricketts wasn't tested much of the game. Both Angel and Jorge Rojas unleashed several ambitious shots that were parried well by the Jamaican as he continues to prove to be a big reason the Galaxy keep winning. It will be continue - you know how I know that? It looks like he's having fun out there. That could be what happens when you stone a rushed Juan Pablo Angel on a PK.

3. Eric Brunner (Columbus)

Aside from the late goal allowed to RSL's Raphael Cox, Brunner once again was a beast this past weekend. The Crew have now only lost once in the past 14 matches and they don't show any signs of slowing up. Even with the young Brunner and Andy Iro in the middle, the Crew defense stood strong. Now if only their offense could replicate their three goals against Real Salt Lake week in, week out.

4. Emmanuel Osei (New England)


Even though to Steve Nicol, the "first half was garbage", Emmanuel Osei and the rest of the Revs backline made sure that Nicol's statement rung true for both sides. Returning from suspension, Osei slotted right back into his old position and kept a one time Western Conference power slipping. If it weren't Shalrie Joseph, however, Osei's effort might have only yielded one point instead of three.


5. Raphael Cox (Real Salt Lake)
It's only right to put Cox on the list after he scored his first professional goal. Even if it was a consolation strike after RSL was spanked by the defending champion Columbus Crew. Both came into the game with great recent records but a couple bounces here and there and some lax defending from RSL gave Columbus the 3-0 lead a little after halftime. Cox came in the 61st minute and it only took 15 minutes for him to register his first goal, provided to him by recent acquisition Pablo Campos.


6. Peter Lowry (Chicago)


Huh? Who? Lowry joins a midfield riddled with injuries and international call-ups which is what gave him his first ever MLS start. A Santa Clara product, Lowry was drafted last season but failed to break into the first team (consider the players in front of him). He showed good tackling ability and minimized the rookie mistakes as Chicago - fresh off of learning that Brian McBride would miss the rest of the regular season - blanked San Jose 2-0 and ended an odd home scoreless streak.



7. Rodney Wallace (DC United)

With Chris Pontius getting the start but having a rather quiet day vs. the Rapids, Rodney Wallace, coming on late as a sub, looked the better of the two. With Wallace's injection of pace and Jaime Moreno's penalty kick conversion, Tom Soehn looked like one hell of a manager to help kill off the Rapids and come away with a 3-1 win. Will Wallace and Pontius ever start looking like rookies?

8. Chris Birchall (Los Angeles)



I have always liked Birchall, even when he plays against the USA. I think his addition, along with Esky, will be the one that wills the Galaxy back into the playoffs. He was given 20 minutes in last Thursday's game vs. Los Angeles but didn't disappoint. Known as scrappy and tough, he delivered some tackles and hustle that confirmed that. Should be a good buy once he finds his way into that starting line-up.

9. Kevin Alston (New England)

Both Alston and Osei had their hands full with the speed of Galindo and poacher Eduardo Lillingston, but they kept the duo silent all game as the Revs rolled to a 2-0 win. Between Alston, Barnes, and Osei it's certainly not the Revolution defense making excuses for all of the injuries and fatigue (even though they can). Ideally, if Sainey Nyassi and Kenny Mansally actually decide to play a little defense again, Alston and his backline might be able to venture into the opposition's side a little more.

10. Darrius Barnes (New England)



I doubt anyone could have predicted that Barnes and Alston would work their way into the everyday lineup so soon but injuries and form have come into play and now that it's done, I can't see them joining the bench anytime in the near future. The problem for the New England defense was not up front but instead in the middle of the field with Sasha Victorine and Paolo Nagamura but solid play kept the Goats out of Matt Reis' net. For the Revs, it's nice to be back at .500 and many other teams are probably asking, what is it with teams this year that have two rookies in their backline?

New Face: Jair Benitez (DF-FCD) - left-sided fullback on loan from Deportivo Cali (Fredy Montero's side)

Debuts: Chris Birchall (LAG), Julien Baudet (COL)

OVERALL [pts/wk]

1. Freddy Montero (Seattle - 62 pts.)
2. Donovan Ricketts (Los Angeles - 51 pts.)
3. Chris Pontius (DC United - 47 pts.)
4. Freddie Ljungberg (Seattle - 44 pts.)
Jhon Kennedy Hurtado (Seattle - 44 pts.)
5. Omar Gonzalez (Los Angeles - 42 pts.)
6. Steve Zakuani (Seattle - 37 pts.)
7. Stefan Frei (Toronto FC - 35 pts.)
8. Andrew Hainault (Houston - 34 pts.)
9. Eduardo Lillingston (Chivas USA - 33 pts.)
10. Kasey Keller (Seattle - 32 pts.)
11. Eric Brunner (Columbus - 28 pts.)
12. Rodney Wallace (DC United - 26 pts.)
Emmanuel Osei (New England - 26 pts.)
13. Gregg Berhalter (Los Angeles - 25 pts.)
14. David Ferreira (FC Dallas - 24 pts.)
15. Pablo Vitti (Toronto FC - 23 pts.)
A.J. DeLaGarza (Los Angeles - 23 pts.)
16. Mariano Trujillo (Chivas USA - 22 pts.)
17. Osvaldo Alonso (Seattle - 21 pts.)
18. Cam Weaver (San Jose/Houston - 18 pts.)
Pablo Campos (San Jose/Real Salt Lake - 18 pts.)
Kevin Alston (New England - 18 pts.)
19. Dejan Jakovic (DC United - 17 pts.)
Kyle Davies (FC Dallas - 17 pts.)
20. Brad Knighton (New England -16 pts.)
21. Alfredo Pacheco (Red Bull New York - 14 pts.)
Sam Cronin (Toronto FC - 14 pts.)
Baggio Husidic (Chicago - 14 pts.)
22. Matt Besler (Kansas City - 11 pts.)
23. Albert Celades (New York - 10 pts.)
Cornell Glen (San Jose - 10 pts.)
Alvaro Sanchez (FC Dallas - 10 pts.)
Santiago Hirsig (Kansas City - 10 pts.)
24. Bobby Convey (San Jose - 9 pts.)
Gerson Mayen (Chivas USA - 9 pts.)
Scott Palguta (Colorado - 9 pts.)
25. Sebastian Le Toux (Seattle - 8 pts.)
Darrius Barnes (New England - 8 pts.)
26. Jeremy Hall (New York - 7 pts.)
27. Michael Lahoud (Chivas USA - 6 pts.)
Raphael Cox (Real Salt Lake - 6 pts.)
28. Nick Zimmerman (New York - 5 pts.)
Rauwshan McKenzie (Kansas City - 5 pts.)
Peter Lowry (Chicago - 5 pts.)
29. Bojan Stepanovic (Chivas USA - 4 pts.)
Stephane Assengue (New England - 4 pts.)
30. Chris Birchall (Los Angeles - 3 pts.)
31. Luis Miguel Escalada (Real Salt Lake - 2 pts.)
Milos Kocic (DC United - 2 pts.)
Carlos Johnson (New York - 2 pts.)
Quincy Amarikwa (San Jose - 2 pts.)
Edgaras Jankauskas (New England - 2 pts.)
31. Alec Dufty (New York - 1 pt.)
Kyle Reynish (Real Salt Lake - 1 pt.)
Tony Sanneh (Los Angeles - 1 pt.)
Ange N'Silu (DC United - 1 pt.)