SAN JOSE, Calif. – Major League Soccer today announced that San Jose Earthquakes forward Danny Hoesen has been voted the MLS Player of the Week following his two-goal performance on Saturday. Hoesen scored the team’s first and third goals, including the eventual game-winner, to lift San Jose over Minnesota United FC 3-2.
Hoesen, 27, is the second Earthquakes player in a row to be named the MLS Player of the Week, following Chris Wondolowski and his one-goal, one-assist performance during the regular season finale in 2017. Prior to Wondolowski last season, no Quakes player had won the award since Yannick Djalo in July of 2014.
Hoesen was also selected to the MLS Team of the Week and is currently a contender for the MLS AT&T Goal of the Week. He currently has the league’s highest score in the Audi Player Index, which rates each player’s performance based on their impact on the match, positioning, ability to complete key tasks and numerous other metrics. He was one of just two players in MLS to score multiple goals in Week 1.
After spending the 2017 season on loan from Dutch side FC Groningen, Hoesen was acquired on a permanent transfer in December. He tallied five goals and five assists in MLS play last year, scoring an additional three goals during U.S. Open Cup play. Including last Saturday, Hoesen has now scored five goals in his last seven regular season appearances.
The MLS Player of the Week is selected each week of the regular season by a panel of journalists from NASR. The group consists of members of print, television, radio and online media.
Quakes midfielder and Designated Player Vako was also recognized by MLS after being named to the MLS Team of the Week’s bench as honorable mention. He tallied two assists and a goal in Saturday’s victory and is currently the only player in MLS with three points to his credit.
