2007 FCTP MLS Rookie of the Week...Week 7...

Another week of MLS action in the books and this week is a tough one for rookie of the week voting. I don't know if anyone really stood out enough to win the award hands down. So, as you'll see in a minute, our winner is being selected not only for this week's performance but for other recent performances.

So which rookies saw the field this week?

Played entire game:
Andrew Boyens (2 games)
Maurice Edu (2 games)
Michael Harrington
Ty Harden

Started, didn't finish:
Dane Richards
Brad Evans
Adam Cristman

Substitutes:
Robbie Findley
Guy-Roland Kpene
Sal Caccavale
Sinisa Ubiparipovic
Corey Ashe
Wells Thompson
Nico Colaluca
Aaron Hohlbein
Kurt Morsink

First off, we saw 221 total MLS players take the field this week with 8% (18) being rookies. That is our highest number of rookies yet this season. 50% of the rookies started and 33% played the entire game. Edu, Boyens, Harden and Harrington have become automatic starters for their respective teams. As the season wears on we're no doubt going to see some more names added to the list of early rookie favorites.

This week we're going to recognize the un-heralded defenders. Two years ago Michael Parkhurst had a break out rookie season. Last year it was Dasan Robinson. This year it looks like a two horse race between Andrew Boyens and Ty Harden. This week's ROTW goes to one of those defenders for making the leap to professional soccer and staking a claim in the back line. I'm going to give the week 7 award to Boyens. He played two matches this week, one where his defense shut out the defending champions, Houston. Additionally, he doesn't have Joe Cannon behind him to clean up his mistakes.

Harden deserves honorable mention. He stepped into an established team and won the starting spot. We knew going into the season LA was going to have a questionable defense after trading Ugo Ihemelu but it seems that Harden has been able to help keep a steady presence in front of a great keeper, Joe Cannon.

All of you calling for a ROTW from the defensive side of things now have it.

Welcome to the club Corey Ashe and Sal Caccavale. They both played in their first matches this week. Interestingly, Sal a goal in his first game in which he started playing in the 88th minute. He scored the 4th Red Bulls goal in minute number 92. Way to go Sal!