New England Revolution forward Taylor Twellman today was named the September Honda MLS Player of the Month. The Revs striker scored five goals and added an assist in the four games he played in during the month, making him the League's current leading scorer with 16 goals. Twellman, who has been named MLS Player of the Week three times this season, earns his second career Player of the Month award (May 2002).
After missing the first Revs game of the month on Sept. 3 while taking part in the U.S. National team's World Cup clinching victory over Mexico, Twellman returned on September 10 to post a hat trick in a 3-1 win over Columbus at Gillette Stadium. It was his second hat trick of the season and the third of his career, setting a new club record.
The St. Louis native added another goal on Sept. 17 against the MetroStars at Giants Stadium. At the time, his goal gave the Revs the lead but they couldn't hold on and lost 5-4. A midweek game against the Columbus Crew on Sept. 21 saw Twellman once again save the Revs in the late stages. With the Crew leading 1-0 in injury time, Twellman scored in injury to give the Revs the hard-fought 1-1 tie. His 93rd minute goal was the sixth he's scored this season from the 89th minute on.
Twellman closed out the month of heroics by assisting on the game-winning goal on Saturday, Sept. 24 against the Metros. In the 85th minute, Twellman out-jumped his mark to get on the end of a Pat Noonan cross near the goal, heading the ball back to James Riley who tapped in the only goal in a 1-0 win. The victory secured the Revs the first playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
His current form has extended his current streak of scoring a goal or registering an assist to eight consecutive games.
Los Angeles Galaxy forward Herculez Gomez and FC Dallas forward Roberto Mina also received votes for the monthly 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)
June: Nate Jaqua (Chicago Fire)
July: Ricardo Clark (San Jose Earthquakes)
August: Scott Sealy (Kansas City Wizards)
September: Taylor Twellman (New England Revolution)
