Columbus Crew SC today announced that forward Ola Kamara was voted Major League Soccer Player of the Week by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) for Week 13 of the 2016 MLS season. It is the first Player of the Week honor for Kamara in his MLS career as well as the first such honor for the Black & Gold this season.
Kamara earned the award following his first MLS hat trick on Saturday, May 28 against Real Salt Lake at MAPFRE Stadium. The Norwegian registered the first Crew SC regular-season hat trick since September 18, 2004. Kamara's hat trick made him the sixth different player all-time to record at least three goals in a single regular-season match for Columbus, joining Edson Buddle, Stern John, Brian Maisonneuve, Ross Paule and Dante Washington.
Kamara's first goal on Saturday, May 28 vs. Real Salt Lake
The goals were the forward's first three regular-season tallies in Black & Gold. Kamara also notched 10 shots (seven on target) against the Claret & Cobalt, both tying for the MLS season high by any one player in any one match this campaign. Two other players have recorded 10 shots in one match this season (Sebastian Giovinco, David Villa twice) while only Fabian Espindola has matched Kamara's seven shots on target in one clash.
Kamara's second goal on Saturday, May 28 vs. Real Salt Lake
This is the 51st time in MLS history that a Crew SC player has been named MLS Player of the Week. Kamara joins current teammates Federico Higuain (three times) and Ethan Finlay in having earned the weekly honor while a member of Crew SC. Black & Gold players were named Player of the Week four times in 2015, including Finlay's recognition in Week 8 of last season.
Kamara's third goal on Saturday, May 28 vs. Real Salt Lake
The MLS Player of the Week is selected each week of the regular season by a panel of journalists from the NASR. The group consists of members of print, television, radio and online media.
The Black & Gold continue the 2016 Major League Soccer campaign by traveling to Philadelphia to face the Union tomorrow, Wednesday, June 1 (7:00 p.m. ET / The CW Columbus, Time Warner Cable SportsChannel, BCSN2, CD102.5 FM, La Mega 103.1 FM, English radio stream on ColumbusCrewSC.com).
