Pontius claims MLS Player of the Week with hat trick

New York, NY – D.C. United midfielder Chris Pontius was named the Major League Soccer Player of the Week on Monday for Week 7 after he scored a hat trick in his team's 4-1 win over Red Bull New York.

Pontius scored his first goal in the eighth minute and added a second shortly after the half-hour mark when he finished off a cross from Maicon Santos.

The 24-year-old then completed his hat trick with 20 minutes to play with a nice run from midfield that resulted in Pontius finding the corner of the net after dashing through the New York defense.

The MLS Player of the Week award is selected each week by the North American Soccer Reporters. The group consists of members of online, print, television, radio media. More information can be found at soccerreporters.com.

2012 MLS Player of the Week winners:

Week 1: Kalif Alhassan (Portland Timbers)

Week 2: David Estrada (Seattle Sounders FC)

Week 3: Thierry Henry (Red Bull New York)

Week 4: Thierry Henry (Red Bull New York)

Week 5: Thierry Henry (Red Bull New York)

Week 6: Dan Kennedy (Chivas USA)

Week 7: Chris Pontius (D.C. United)