MLS Round-Up
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
After scoring five goals in 14 games in his first season with the San Jose Earthquakes, forward Steven Lenhart had yet to find the back of the net in 2012 in five appearances. The former Southern California Seahorses standout rectified that in a strong performance off the substitute’s bench this past Saturday as he lifted his side to victory against the Philadelphia Union and earned MLS Player of the Week honors for the second time in his career.
Lenhart came on with a half-hour remaining against the Union, and found the back of the net in the 76th minute with a diving header. Then, after the Union equalized through Gabriel Enrique Gomez, Lenhart came through in stoppage time to give the Earthquakes their fifth victory in six matches, keeping them on top of the Western Conference.
“He’s hard to handle in the box; he’s very good in the air. He’s tough,” Yallop told MLSSoccer.com’s Geoff Lepper. “After we go a goal up and then concede one pretty late in the game, to come back and score the winner, especially away from home, is very good. We’re happy as a club and very pleased for Steven Lenhart.”
Lehnart wasn’t the only former PDL standout named to the MLS Team of the Week, with 2010 Goalkeeper of the Year Ryan Meara earning his first professional shutout in the New York Red Bulls’ 1-0 victory against the New England Revolution. The former Jersey Express standout’s performances have also drawn attention overseas, and while Meara won’t be attending Ireland’s U21 Training Camp later this month after the Red Bulls decided to keep him with the side, the opportunity to play internationally might open up soon for the 21-year-old.
Meara’s teammate Dax McCarty, who played in the PDL for Ajax Orlando, was also named to the Team of the Week after his strong holding midfield performance took pressure of the Red Bulls’ inexperienced back line, while former Richmond Kicker Dwayne DeRosario got another nod this season as he pulled the strings in D.C. United’s 3-2 win against the Houston Dynamo, bagging his first goal of the season in the process.
Former Ventura County Fusion midfielder Eric Avila earned a spot on the team despite Toronto FC’s defeat to Real Salt Lake, with the midfielder proving a key cog in helping the Reds build their attack against a solid RSL defense.
Other USL alumni that made an impact this past weekend included Jonny Steele, with the former USL First Division Most Valuable Player scoring the game-winning goal for Real Salt Lake against Toronto FC. After a number of seasons in lower division soccer, Steele has grabbed his opportunity in MLS with both hands, his goal on Saturday being his second in nine appearances to go with an assist.
Elsewhere, the Colorado Rapids’ Kamani Hill scored a pair of goals in a 4-0 victory against CD Chivas USA, the former Orange County Blue Star forward continuing to make an impact since his return from Europe. Meanwhile former Michigan Bucks standout Pat Noonan grabbed the Los Angeles Galaxy a draw against FC Dallas with his late goal.