FC Dallas forward Carlos Ruiz today capped a week of honors, having been chosen as the Honda MLS Player of the Month of May. Ruiz scored 5 goals in five games during the month, leading FC Dallas to an undefeated 3-0-2 record in May. The 25-year old Ruiz, who leads MLS with seven goals scored, wins his fifth MLS Player of the Month honor, the most by any player in League history and two ahead of the next closest (Clint Mathis and Diego Serna). He is the fifth Dallas player to win the award and the first since Matt Jordan in August of 1999.
Ruiz started off the month by scoring the game winner late in Dallas' 4-3 road win in Kansas City against the Wizards on May 7th. Receiving a ball from Ronnie O'Brien with his back to goal in the 82nd minute, Ruiz spun and carved out enough space to fire a left-footed shot under goalkeeper Bo Oshoniyi. Two weeks later, Ruiz again provided some late-game heroics to give his team another three points, this time against the Colorado Rapids at the Cotton Bowl. In the 77th minute, Ruiz took a pass from Clarence Goodson and blasted the ball past keeper Joe Cannon to give FC Dallas the 2-1 victory.
After scoring his fifth goal of the season in the team's 5-2 win against Chivas USA on May 22 at The Home Depot Center, Ruiz ended the month by scoring both Dallas goals in a 2-0 win at RFK Stadium against D.C. United on May 28. Ruiz electrified the crowd four minutes after the halftime, taking a chipped pass from Roberto Mina from the right and lifting to hit a full bike to the far side, leaving United keeper Nick Rimando no chance to save. Ruiz put away a penalty kick in the 56th minute to give him seven on the season.
Following the D.C. game, the Guatemalan international was selected as the Week 9 Honda MLS Player of the Week and his bicycle kick goal in that game was also voted as the Sierra Mist Goal of the Week.
New England Revolution keeper Matt Reis and MetroStars forward Eddie Gaven were runner's up for the award. 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).
2005 PLAYER OF THE MONTH WINNERS
April: Clint Dempsey (New England Revolution)
May: Carlos Ruiz (FC Dallas)
