Mullan's performance takes award

San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Brian Mullan was selected the Honda MLS Player of the Week by the Professional Soccer Reporters Association (PSRA) for the week ending Aug. 8 (Week 19). Mullan, who earned his first career Player of the Week honor, opened the scoring for his team and set up Dwayne De Rosario's blistering world-class volley late in the match that sealed the three points for the Earthquakes in a 2-0 home win over D.C. United on Saturday.

The Colorado native broke a scoreless tie in the 17th minute by tallying his third goal of the season after a scramble inside the box following a free kick near the corner flag. His first attempt on goal was blocked, but he tried his luck again and beat United goalkeeper Troy Perkins to the back post, despite the efforts of D.C. defender Bryan Namoff, who got a foot to the attempt but was unable to keep it from crossing the line.

"I made a near post run, and Jeff [Agoos] crossed it perfectly into the middle," Mullan said after the game. "I thought that Todd [Dunivant] had it and then it ended up to me and I just shot it. It hit one of their defenders, bounced back to me, and then I decided to shoot it again, and it found a way to go in."

There was no way of keeping out San Jose's second goal seven minutes from time. Mullan beat United defender Brandon Prideaux down the sideline before delivering a driven cross from the right of the box to teammate Dwayne De Rosario. The Canadian international then connected with a first-time, right-footed strike from just inside the area that rattled off the underside of the crossbar on its way into the back of the net to bring an end to United's hopes.

The four-year veteran earns his first career MLS Player of the Week award and is the third different Earthquakes player to win the award this year (Pat Onstad - Week 2 and Week 7, Brian Ching - Week 16).

Mullan was selected ahead of Dallas Burn goalkeeper Jeff Cassar and MetroStars forward John Wolyniec for this week's award. The Honda Major League Soccer Player of the Week is selected every week throughout the MLS regular season by a panel of journalists from the Professional Soccer Reporters Association (PSRA).

2004 PLAYER OF THE WEEK WINNER

Week 1: Jaime Moreno (D.C. United)

Week 2: Pat Onstad (San Jose Earthquakes)

Week 3: Fabian Taylor (MetroStars)

Week 4: Carlos Ruiz (Los Angeles Galaxy)

Week 5: Henry Ring (Chicago Fire)

Week 6: Jovan Kirovski (Los Angeles Galaxy)

Week 7: Pat Onstad (San Jose Earthquakes)

Week 8: Alejandro Moreno (Los Angeles Galaxy)

Week 9: Jovan Kirovski (Los Angeles Galaxy)

Week 10: Pat Noonan (New England Revolution)

Week 11: Jeff Cunningham (Columbus Crew)