Photo: Andy Marlin/Getty Images (MLS)
It’s usually a pretty safe bet that if you bag a hat trick in Major League Soccer, you’re going to be a front-runner for the MLS Player of the Week award. For Week 9, Chivas USA’s Justin Braun did just that and has been named the Player of the Week for his three goals in the Goats’ 3-2 win at New York Red Bulls lifting them off the foot of the Western Conference table.
Braun is the ninth different winner of the award this year
Here’s what some of the NASR voters had to say about Braun’s performance against the Red Bulls:
“Braun’s hat trick was even more impressive since it led to the first win of the season in 27 games for a team traveling three times zones.”
“Braun scored a beautiful first goal and then was in the right place for two more as Chivas beat New York. Kudos to Braun for producing when his team needed it.“
How the NASR voted:
| Voter | POTW Choice | Second Choice |
| Steven Sandor | Justin Braun (CHV) | Chad Barrett (LA) |
| Scott French | Justin Braun (CHV) | Landon Donovan (LA) |
| Frank Giase | Justin Braun (CHV) | Joao Plata (TOR) |
| JP Dellacamera | Justin Braun (CHV) | Landon Donovan (LA) |
| Elliott Almond | Justin Braun (CHV) | Chris Wondolowski (SJ) |
| Phil Schoen | Justin Braun (CHV) | Kevin Hartman (DAL) |
| Shaun Schafer | Landon Donovan (LA) | Justin Braun (CHV) |
| Orrin Schwartz | Justin Braun (CHV) | Landon Donovan (LA) |
| Tom Timmerman | Justin Braun (CHV) | Joao Plata (TOR) |
| Steve Clare | Fabian Castillo (DAL) | Stefan Frei (TOR) |
| Marc Connolly | Justin Braun (CHV) | Landon Donovan (LA) |
| Bobby McMahon | Justin Braun (CHV) | Fabian Castillo (DAL) |
| Don Ruiz | Justin Braun (CHV) | Landon Donovan (LA) |
| Jonathan Tannenwald | Justin Braun (CHV) | Chris Wondolowski (SJ) |
| Shawn Mitchell | Justin Braun (CHV) | Landon Donovan (LA) |
| Jonah Freedman | Justin Braun (CHV) | Kevin Hartman (DAL) |
| Beau Dure | Justin Braun (CHV) | Landon Donovan (LA) |
| Brian Balboa | Justin Braun (CHV) | Landon Donovan (LA) |
Previous 2011 POTW Winners:
Week 8 Winner: Joao Plata (Toronto FC)
Week 7 Winner: Will Bruin (Houston Dynamo)
Week 6 Winner: Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy)
Week 5 Winner: Luke Rodgers (New York Red Bulls)
Week 4 Winner: David Ferreira (FC Dallas)
Week 3 Winner: Camilo (Vancouver Whitecaps)
Week 2 Winner: Javier Morales (RSL)
Week 1 Winner: Omar Bravo (SKC)
