New England Revolution midfielder Clint Dempsey was chosen Wednesday as the Honda MLS Player of the Month of April by the Professional Soccer Reporters Association (PSRA). Dempsey scored four goals and added three assists during the Revolution's five games during the past month, leading New England to its best start ever, with a 4-0-1 record (13 points) to lead the Eastern Conference.
Dempsey is currently the top scorer in MLS and also tied for the League lead in fouls suffered with 19. He was nearly a unanimous pick for the award, taking 95 percent of the votes. Dempsey becomes the fourth-ever Revolution player chosen as Player of the Month (Walter Zenga - September 1997; Taylor Twellman - May 2002; Pat Noonan - October 2003).
The 22-year-old Dempsey has scored the game-winning goal in each of the Revs' four victories; all four goals were nominated for Sierra Mist Goal of the Week honors with his game-winner Chicago Fire last Wednesday winning Goal of the Week honors.
Dempsey began the month by setting up New England's first goal of the season, combining with teammate Pat Noonan to begin a comeback in the Revs 2-2 draw against the San Jose Earthquakes on April 2.
A week later, Dempsey notched his first goal of the season by opening the scoring against the Columbus Crew in the 63rd minute. Dempsey latched on to defender Jay Heaps' curling cross from the left flank with a powerful diving header from eight yards out, putting the Revolution ahead on their way to a 3-0 home win.
In a rematch of the 2004 Eastern Conference Championship game against D.C. United on April 23, Dempsey put the game away in the 77th minute when he found the right corner of the goal on another diving header, this time off a bending freekick from the right flank from Andy Dorman. The Revolution won the match 4-3 at RFK Stadium to move into first place in the Eastern Conference.
The 2004 Gatorade MLS Rookie of the Year finished off the month with two more spectacular game-winners during Week Five. On Wednesday, April 27 against the Chicago Fire, Dempsey again opened the scoring after receiving a pass threaded into the penalty area from the right side by midfielder Shalrie Joseph. Dempsey stepped through the two Fire defenders, lifted the ball forward to his right, and after taking one step, ripped a full volley into the top right corner past goalkeeper Zach Thornton.
The Texas native ended the week with a goal in his fourth straight game, an 88th minute header off an assist from Marshall Leonard to defeat Chivas USA 1-0 on April 30 at Gillette Stadium.
The Honda Major League Soccer Player of the Month is selected following the last game of each month throughout the MLS regular season by a panel of journalists from the Professional Soccer Reporters Association (PSRA).
