D.C. United forward Patrick Mullins has been voted the Alcatel MLS Player of the Week by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) for the 29th week of the 2017 MLS season.
Mullins scored a career-high four goals to lead D.C. United to a 4-0 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday at RFK Stadium. The American striker was the 11th player in MLS history and the third player in D.C. United history to score four goals in one game, accomplishing the feat in 31 minutes, the shortest span in league history. Mullins also became the first player in league history to score four goals in one half.
Mullins opened the scoring in the 57th minute with a perfect one-touch finish in front of goal to make it 1-0 for D.C. United. Just three minutes later, Mullins made a late run into the box and headed a perfectly chipped ball in to the back of the net to extend the lead to 2-0.
In the 68th minute, Mullins found goalkeeper Andrew Tarbell’s deflection in the box and buried it home to give D.C. a 3-0 advantage. The hat trick hero was given a chance to add to his total in 88th minute when Ian Harkes earned a free kick right outside the box. The striker stepped up and smashed the ball around the wall of defenders and past the goalkeeper’s outstretched hands to end the game at 4-0.
D.C. United return to action on Wednesday, September 27, to visit the New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena (7:30 PM ET) before taking on Columbus Crew SC at MAPFRE Stadium on Saturday, September 30 (7:30 PM ET).
The Alcatel MLS Player of the Week is selected each week of the regular season by a panel of journalists from NASR. The group consists of members of print, television, radio and online media.
