NEW YORK - Chicago Fire goalkeeper Matt Pickens was named Major League Soccer's Player of the Month for September. Pickens played a key role in helping the Fire clinch its eighth MLS Cup Playoffs berth in nine seasons as he recorded a 4-2-0 record in regular season action. He was also in net for the Fire as they defeated D.C. United in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup semifinal and the Los Angeles Galaxy in the final game of the tournament.
Pickens started his first game of the season on Sept. 3 against the New York Red Bulls and immediately made an impact giving up only a rebound goal and making eight saves in a 2-1 win. He followed up with eight saves in a 2-1 victory over Columbus on Sept. 9, and then recorded his first career MLS shutout on Sept. 17 in a 1-0 win over Eastern Conference leaders D.C. United. In his next game, Pickens saved a career-high 10 shots as Chicago defeated Los Angeles 2-1 on Sept. 23.
Pickens helped lead the Fire to their fourth U.S. Open Cup title, the most of any MLS team, with two wins during the month. He recorded the shutout in Chicago's 3-0 semifinal win versus D.C. United on Sept. 6 and was in net for the Fire's 3-1 victory over the Galaxy on Sept. 27.
Pickens recorded a 0.83 goals against average, tallied one shutout and stopped 34 of the 38 shots he faced in MLS regular season play during September. In three MLS seasons, he has a 6-4-1 record and a 0.96 goals against average. This is the first time Pickens has won the MLS Player of the Month award.
The MLS Player of the Month is selected following the last game of each month throughout the regular season by a panel of journalists from the Professional Soccer Reporters Association (PSRA). The PSRA votes among players nominated by their respective teams.
2006 MLS PLAYER OF THE MONTH WINNERS
April: Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo)
May: Carlos Ruiz (FC Dallas)
June: Jose Burciaga Jr. (Kansas City Wizards)
July: Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA)
August: Jeff Cunningham (Real Salt Lake)
September: Matt Pickens (Chicago Fire)
