MLS may be single-entity, but it's Noooooooooooooonan who owns the Metros! Gotta love it... PAT NOONAN NAMED MLS PLAYER OF THE WEEK Hat Trick Versus MetroStars Lands Rookie Award for Second Time in 2003 FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - New England Revolution forward Pat Noonan was named MLS Player of the Week by the Professional Soccer Reporters Association (PSRA) for the week ending October 25, 2003 (Week 30). Noonan registered his first career hat trick in the Revolution's 5-2 victory over the MetroStars this past Saturday. The Revolution won their last five matches of the 2003 MLS regular season and are unbeaten in their last seven heading into the MLS Cup Playoffs, which begin this coming weekend. This is the second time Noonan has been named MLS Player of the Week, having received the honor for Week 24 of the 2003 season after scoring two goals against the MetroStars on September 13. Noonan notched the Revs' first goal against the Metros in the 41st minute of Saturday's game. He took a pass from Steve Ralston at the top of the penalty area and struck a low, left-footed shot that skimmed between the legs of MetroStars goalkeeper Paul Grafer. Noonan scored his second goal of the contest in the 51st minute. Dario Fabbro played a bending ball into the area from right flank which deflected off of defender Juan Forchetti before Noonan lobbed a header over Grafer and into the goal. With the score 4-1 in the 68th minute, Noonan completed his hat trick when he collected a low cross from the left side by Brian Kamler. Noonan then made one of his patented cutback maneuvers through the MetroStars' defense before easily slotting a shot past Grafer from eight yards out. José Cancela triggered the attack for New England by releasing Kamler down the left wing with a spectacular overhead kick from midfield. Noonan joins Chris Brown, Alberto Naveda and Taylor Twellman as the only four players in team history to record hat tricks. Brown did so most recently, tallying three goals in a 5-1 Revs win over the Chicago Fire on August 28, 2003 at Gillette Stadium. This is the fifth time a Revolution player has been named Player of the Week in 2003. Previous winners this season are: Taylor Twellman (Week 7), Brian Kamler (Week 9), Chris Brown (Week 22) and Pat Noonan (Week 24). The Major League Soccer Player of the Week is selected every week throughout the MLS season by a panel of journalists from the Professional Soccer Reporters Association (PSRA). The Revs begin MLS Cup Playoffs action on Saturday, November 1 at 5 p.m. at Giants Stadium in the first game of their Conference Semifinals home-and-home, aggregate goals series with the MetroStars. The home leg of the Conference Semifinal first round playoff series for the Revolution will be played on November 9 at 4 p.m. at Gillette Stadium. Playoff tickets are on sale now. Call 1-877-GET-REVS for tickets or more information.
I had the url copied, you beat me to the punch! Props to Noonan, not only for this week but for being the winningest rookie POTW (Damani Ralph won in week 16)
I think Noonan's best skill is in his deception. He doesn't seem at all dangerous on the field and thereby gets defenders/goalkeepers to relax. I have no doubt that he's somebody who could be shut down with persistent attention, but Twellman's kind of the same way. Neither overwhelms defenders; they just find a bit of an opening that the defense failed to close up.
Fans- Noonan may not overwhelm with a specific physical talent. As is the case with Twellman, they both have that scorer's nack for drifting into unmarked areas...simply being a good goalscorer. However, Shalrie Joseph is still my pick for rookie of the year. Noonan has shown he can play and score goals on the road...something that isn't easy in any league. Go Revs! (and the Fire too!)