NEW YORK (March 7, 2022) – New York Red Bulls midfielder Lewis Morgan was voted the Major League Soccer Player of the Week for the second week of the 2022 MLS season.
Morgan and the New York Red Bulls continued their strong start to the 2022 campaign, as Morgan’s first-half hat trick, the first of his MLS career, paced the club in its 4-1 victory over Toronto FC. Morgan opened the scoring with a deft strike around a diving goalkeeper in the 17th minute. He proceeded to add his second in the 24th minute and completed his trifecta with a breakaway score in the 40th minute. All three of Morgan’s goals were assisted by Polish Designated Player Patryk Klimala, who was recently named to MLS’ Team of the Week alongside Morgan.
Morgan was the first Red Bulls player to tally a first-half trick since Bradley Wright-Phillips on May 28, 2016 against Toronto FC. The Scottish midfielder was also the first Red Bulls player to tally a hat-trick since BWP accomplished the feat on September 6, 2018 at D.C. United.
The Red Bulls make their 2022 home debut against Minnesota United FC at Red Bull Arena on Sunday (7 p.m. ET, MLS LIVE on ESPN+). New York is off to their best start since 2017 and aim to begin the season 3-0 for the first time in franchise history.
The MLS Player of the Week is selected each week of the regular season through both media and fan voting in a process conducted by MLS Communications. A panel of journalists from the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) comprises 75 percent of the vote, while a Twitter fan vote represents the remaining 25 percent of voting. NASR consists of members of print, television, radio and online media.
