With yet another stellar weekend showing, we have ourselves a new overall #1, ending the reign of Seattle Sounders. Many new faces on the top 10 in Week 12. It could be the lack of stellar performances to pick from or the fact that I just wanted a change of scenery. Looking it over, I'm already made at myself for not including a Rodney Wallace, Dejan Jakovic, or Chris Pontius. Must be the recency effect...


1. Donovan Ricketts (Los Angeles)

Eighteen shots total, 11 on goal and Ricketts only let one go in. Los Angeles can attribute the 2-1 win more so to Donovan Ricketts play (once again) than to Edson Buddle's late game goal. Ricketts is fast becoming a common name to see at the top of this list and, undoubtedly, he makes the Galaxy defense look a lot better than it might actually be. The Jamaican has rarely made mistakes week-in and week-out and it's safe to say this is not the first time he has saved a game for the Galaxy. Question though...if anything happens to Ricketts, can Josh Saunders get the job done?

2. Andrew Hainault (Houston)



Hainault's big test will come in Week 13 with two important games starting tonight vs. Chivas USA at home and then an away game vs. FC Dallas on Saturday. The 22-year old has already risen to the occasion, delivering the long ball to Kei Kamara that set-up the gamewinner vs. Chicago, in a clash of conference superpowers. The Canadian's poise along with Bobby Boswell's Defender of the Year play has put Houston's defense back on the map and ready for the long haul, even without a healthy Eddie Robinson.

3. Eduardo Lillingston (Chivas USA)

Lillingston is one of those unassuming guys that will be quiet all game and then come the 86th minute, you forget he's there and he puts in the gamewinner. Well that's exactly what happened vs. Seattle this past weekend as the Goats padded their lead at the top of the Western Conference. It was his fifth of the year and a pretty simple put-back at that but he continues to score timely goals and when your offense is missing the consistent play of Alecko Eskandarian, Ante Razov, and Maykel Galindo (who's rounding into shape) - goals in any shape or form are welcomed.

4. Kevin Alston (New England)

His play against New York was pre-injury and it's safe to say Alston can be thrown back into contention for Rookie of the Year. He helped shut down Juan Pablo Angel and minimize the damage of any Rev midfield mistakes (and there were several). He was also able to jump into the attack when need be and the results speak for themselves (4-0 to the Revs). Nice to have you back on the list, Kevin.

5. Michael Lahoud (Chivas USA)



I have been waiting for some time to hear Lahoud's name and he has played here and there for the Goats but against Seattle he got his chance. With Jonathan Bornstein and Sacha Kljestan away on international duty, Lahoud filled in perfectly to ensure that Chivas didn't lose a spot without their key players. The former Wake Forest star should play a bigger role over the next two months and I predict we'll see his name on this list several more times.

6. David Ferreira (FC Dallas)

Ferreira finally netted his first goal in the United States against the lowly San Jose defense. Yet the Hoops still could not find three points. The midfielder has done everything but produce slotted behind Kenny Cooper in the attack but the insertion of Alvaro "Tom" Sanchez has allowed Ferreira to act more in his standard playmaking role. The bottom line, however, is that Dallas has to learn how to close games and if the trio of Cooper, Sanchez, and Ferreira can't do that, Hyndman and the Hoops will have a hard time leaving the cellar.

7. Eric Brunner (Columbus)



The hometown boy has turned into a hero for the Crew and with Frankie Hejduk still injured and Chad Marshall out for a knee to the groin, Brunner is in line for an extended stay in the starting lineup. No problem. Against Kansas City, a man down for 40 minutes, Brunner helped shut down Claudio Lopez, Josh Wolff, and Davy Arnaud securing the Crew's 1st (wow...) shutout of the year. Columbus now carries a 8 game unbeaten streak (3-0-5) into a key match-up vs. Chivas USA this Sunday.

8. Tony Sanneh, Omar Gonzalez, AJ DeLaGarza (Los Angeles)

If the Galaxy are winning and tying their way to a playoff spot without David Beckham and in a 2-1 win over TFC, without Donovan, the inclusion of Goldenballs has to provide only positives right? We'll know more on July 16th but for now, the Galaxy keep scraping up results and Bruce Arena is sticking to the presence of progress in the Los Angeles camp. And you know what? I believe him. In honor of the Galaxy defense (which still looks like it could be defiled and broken down at any moment), let's give each newcomer a point.

9. Quincy Amarikwa (San Jose)

His gutsy play vs. FC Dallas directly contributed to Arturo Alvarez's stunner but San Jose continues to look for results, falling flat in the process. One thing that can't be faulted, however, is Quincy's determination and work ethic as he continues to provide a good injection of energy off the bench.

10. Nick Zimmerman (New York)



The Red Bulls have been in a funk all season (save that 4-0 thrashing of...) but Zimmerman fared well filling in for Jorge Rojas. No he didn't exactly impress (although compared to other Red Bull players...maybe) but he deserves a point for getting his first playing time and start all in one week. Hell, Ives even thinks the Red Bulls should ditch Dane Richards and opt for this guy as their winger of the future. Never know, might get better service. Side note - the kid played for the U-15 Mexican national team at one point in his young career.

OVERALL [pts/wk]

1. Donovan Ricketts (Los Angeles - 41 pts.)
2. Jhon Kennedy Hurtado (Seattle - 38 pts.)
3. Steve Zakuani (Seattle - 37 pts.) - Rookie of the Year
4. Freddie Ljungberg (Seattle - 34 pts.)
5. Eduardo Lillingston (Chivas USA - 30 pts.)
6. Chris Pontius (DC United - 28 pts.)
Freddy Montero (Seattle - 28 pts.)
7. Andrew Hainault (Houston - 26 pts.)
8. Kasey Keller (Seattle - 25 pts.)
9. Stefan Frei (Toronto FC - 23 pts.)
10. Mariano Trujillo (Chivas USA - 22 pts.)
11. Emmanuel Osei (New England - 19 pts.)
David Ferreira (FC Dallas - 18 pts.)
12. Osvaldo Alonso (Seattle - 16 pts.)
Brad Knighton (New England - 16 pts.)
Kevin Alston (New England - 16 pts.)
Omar Gonzalez (Los Angeles - 16 pts.)
13. Rodney Wallace (DC United - 15 pts.)
14. Alfredo Pacheco (Red Bull New York - 14 pts.)
Sam Cronin (Toronto FC - 14 pts.)
15. Eric Brunner (Columbus - 13 pts.)
16. Dejan Jakovic (DC United - 12 pts.)
Pablo Vitti (Toronto FC - 12 pts.)
17. Albert Celades (New York - 10 pts.)
Matt Besler (Kansas City - 10 pts.)
Cornell Glen (San Jose - 10 pts.)
Alvaro Sanchez (FC Dallas - 10 pts.)
18. Bobby Convey (San Jose - 9 pts.)
Gerson Mayen (Chivas USA - 9 pts.)
Santiago Hirsig (Kansas City - 9 pts.)
19. Cam Weaver (Houston - 8 pts.)
Sebastian Le Toux (Seattle - 8 pts.)
20. Jeremy Hall (New York - 7 pts.)
Darrius Barnes (New England - 7 pts.)
21. Gregg Berhalter (Los Angeles - 6 pts.)
Michael Lahoud (Chivas USA - 6 pts.)
22. Pablo Campos (San Jose - 5 pts.)
23. Bojan Stepanovic (Chivas USA - 4 pts.)
Stephane Assengue (New England - 4 pts.)
24. 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.)
25. Alec Dufty (New York - 1 pt.)
Kyle Reynish (Real Salt Lake - 1 pt.)
A.J. DeLaGarza (Los Angeles - 1 pt.)
Tony Sanneh (Los Angeles - 1 pt.)
Nick Zimmerman (New York - 1 pt.)

And the fun starts early tonight with a Western Conference showdown between Houston and Chivas USA. Can Hainault's defense stop Lillingston's opportunistic scoring?