This round was led by Acosta Benny Fits, who scored 134 points. The team was led by captain Miguel Almiron (ATL, $9.8), who notched two assists on the way to 30 points. Supporting him were Kevin Molino (MIN, $10.2), who had two assists and 15 points, and Michael Parkhurst (ATL, $5.6), who scored 13 points on the strength of a clean sheet. !BL4CKnRED still leads overall.
Positional Leaders
Goalkeepers
Andre Blake (PHI, $6.0) earned a clean sheet and stopped a penalty on the way to 14 points, leading the position. Behind him, a trio of players scored 9 points — Sean Johnson (NYC, $5.7), Alex Bono (TOR, $5.2), and Alec Kann (ATL, $4.4) — each of whom had a clean sheet. D.C.’s Bill Hamid ($5.7) scored 8 points.
Defenders
Ben Sweat (NYC, $4.6) led all defenders with 17 points on a goal, an assist, and a clean sheet, while Drew Moor (TOR, $6.4) followed closely behind with 15 points on a goal and a clean sheet. Raymon Gaddis’s (PHI, $4.7) 13 points on an assist and a clean sheet were good enough to tie Michael Parkhurst for third. The United defense featured Kofi Opare ($4.4) with 7 points, followed by both Steve Birnbaum ($5.8) and Taylor Kemp ($5.6) with 6, Chris Korb ($4.6) with 5, and Chris Odoi-Atsem ($4.4) with 4.
Midfielders
A quartet of players tied for first with 15 points. Federico Higuain’s (CLB, $10.6) two goals, and Osvaldo Alonso’s (SEA, $10.1) assist on the way to their totals were good enough for a with Miguel Almiron and Kevin Molino. For DCU, Luciano Acosta ($8.3) led with 10 points, followed by both Ian Harkes ($5.7) and Patrick Nyarko ($7.9) with 9, Jared Jeffrey ($5.2) and Marcelo Sarvas ($6.8) with 5, Sebastien Le Toux ($6.0) with 3, and both Julian Buescher ($5.4) and Lamar Neagle ($7.2) with 1.
Forwards
Chicago’s David Accam ($10.2) only played one game this round, but he scored at least one point in eight different categories, including a hat trick and an assist, for 27 points. Well behind but scoring respectably were Jack McBean (LA, $5.6) with two goals and 15 points, and the trio of Ola Kamara (CLB, $10.7), Danny Hoesen (SJ, $8.0), and Will Bruin (SEA, $7.1), who each scored 10 points — they each tallied a goal, while Kamara and Hoesen only added an assist. For D.C., Jose Ortiz ($6.6) scored 3 points, while Deshorn Brown ($8.0) had 2.
Looking Ahead
Everyone plays once this week, with the exception of the Red Bulls and Seattle who are on bye for some reason. Games start on Thursday at Yankee Stadium. The Chicago Fire have a clean sheet in five of their last seven games, so I like Matt Lampson ($4.8) in goal as they face Vancouver at home. In defense, Ike Opara (SKC, $6.4) has scored 42 points over his last four games, so he’s a good start at home against Portland, and in the midfield I like Jack Harrison (NYC, $7.9) at home against Minnesota, as he has a goal or an assist in five of his last six matches. At forward, roll with Nemanja Nikolic (CHI, $10.6).