Chicago Fire forward Nate Jaqua was chosen as the Honda MLS Player of the Month of June. Jaqua scored six goals and added one assist in the six Chicago games during the month, helping Chicago to a 4-1-1 record. This is Jaqua's first ever Player of the Month award.
Jaqua began the month in historic fashion by becoming only the third player in club history to score three goals in a game, recording the hat trick in a 5-2 victory over Chivas USA at Soldier Field on June 4. The 23-year old added his second game-winning goal of the season eight days later, leading the Fire to a 2-0 home victory over the League's top club, FC Dallas.
The third year veteran raised his goal-scoring streak to a career-high three games on June 15 at D.C. United, scoring the Fire's second goal in a heartbreaking 4-3 defeat at RFK Stadium. Jaqua's game-winning exploits continued on June 26 versus Real Salt Lake, assisting on Chris Rolfe's 69th minute game-winning strike in the Fire's 3-1 victory.
Jaqua rounded out the career month on June 29 in another scoring fest against D.C. United, kicking off the scoring in the 11th minute of the Fire's wild 4-3 victory over their Eastern Conference rival at Soldier Field.
A trio of keepers - FC Dallas' Scott Garlick, New England's Matt Reis and San Jose's Pat Onstad - also received consideration for the monthly honor. The Honda Major League Soccer Player of the Month is selected following the last game of each month throughout the MLS regular season by a panel of journalists from the Professional Soccer Reporters Association (PSRA).
2005 PLAYER OF THE MONTH WINNERS
April: Clint Dempsey (New England Revolution)
May: Carlos Ruiz (FC Dallas)
June: Nate Jaqua (Chicago Fire)
