Kelyn Rowe had quite a week for the New England Revolution. The Federal Way High School graduate was voted Major League Soccer’s player of the week following his two-goal performance in the Revolution’s 5-1 victory over the Philadelphia Union at Gillette Stadium Sunday.
The MLS player of the week is selected each week by a panel of journalists from the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR).
It was the first time that Rowe has scored two goals in an MLS game during his short career. And both of Rowe’s goals against Philadelphia were long-range strikes. His first, coming in the 26th minute, came off a leading pass from Chad Barrett on the run. Rowe ripped a 24-yard shot low to the side netting of the far post past Union keeper Zac MacMath to give the Revs a 1-0 lead.
Rowe added his second – this time from 30 yards – in the 65th minute when he took a square pass from Dimitry Imbongo and let rip a shot that started left and bent right into the upper right corner past a diving MacMath. That goal put the Revs up 3-1 on the way to the final 5-1 score line.
Rowe was honored even more by the MLS after that second goal was voted the league’s goal of the week. It was one of five nominees from the MLS and was voted on throughout the week at mlssoccer.com and by text.
CLICK HERE TO SEE VIDEO OF ROWE’S GOAL OF THE WEEK
Rowe claimed nearly 41 percent of the vote, well ahead of second-place finisher Marco Di Vaio. The Montreal Impact forward finished with 21 percent of all votes.
On the season, Rowe has five goals and six assists for the Revolution, who currently sit int he fifth, and final, playoff berth from the Eastern Conference. New England is 10-9-6 on the season.
Rowe’s player of the week nod is his first in MLS, and the Revolution’s second of the 2013 season. Diego Fagundez earned player of the week honors in Week 14 for a two-goal, one-assist effort in a 5-0 win over LA.
The Revolution return to action this evening (Aug. 30), when the team travels to face Toronto FC at BMO Field. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m.
Rowe, a midfielder, was selected third by the Revolution during the 2012 MLS SuperDraft after two seasons at UCLA.
During his sophomore season for the Bruins, Rowe became the fourth UCLA player to be named Pac-12 Player of the Year after leading the conference in assists with 10. Rowe also tallied six goals and led UCLA to the semifinals of the NCAA College Cup. He finished his college career with 13 goals, 20 assists and 46 points in 46 games played and was named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year in 2010.
During his rookie season with New England, Rowe played in 30 games, starting 21. He tallied three goals, which was third on the team, and dished out a team-leading five assists.
Rowe is also a veteran of the U.S. youth national team program, appearing with the under-18, under-20 and under-23 teams.
