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San Jose Earthquakes striker Chris Wondolowski Named MLS Player of the Week

For the fourth time this season and the sixth time in his career, Chris Wondolowski was named the MLS Player of the Week in recognition of his hat-trick against the Colorado Rapids. A near unanimous selection, and coming on the heels of his third Player of the Month selection of the season last week, Wondolowski is the hands-down favorite to win the 2012 MLS Most Valuable Player award.

By Robert Jonas
Ron Chenoy-US PRESSWIRE - Presswire

In a near unanimous vote by the North American Soccer Reporters, San Jose Earthquakes forward Chris Wondolowski was named MLS Player of the Week for round 31. For the star forward, the award was his fourth of the season and comes a week after he was named the MLS Player of the Month for September.

Courtesy of his second hat-trick of the season, Wondolowski led the Earthquakes to a 4-1 thrashing of the Colorado Rapids on Saturday and a first place finish in the Western Conference. His first goal proved to be the match winner — his MLS record 12th game winning goal of the season — and his three on the night elevated his franchise record season total to 25 goals. With two games remaining in the season, Wondolowski has a very good chance of catching Roy Lassiter’s league record 27 goal haul from the 1996 season.

Wondolowski was selected on 16 of the 20 ballots cast by the NASR. Vancouver’s Camilo received two votes while Salt Lake’s Fabian Espindola and Chicago’s Sherjill MacDonald each earned one vote. Wondolowski’s remarkable season leaves him as the heavy favorite to win the 2012 MLS Most Valuable Player award, which will be announced in the days leading up to MLS Cup.

Watch highlights of his hat-trick against Colorado:

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