NEW YORK (Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021) – San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Eduardo López has been voted the Major League Soccer Player of the Month by members of the media for September of the 2021 MLS season.
López scored six goals and added an assist in September, scoring goals in three consecutive games Sept. 15-25, including his first career hat trick in MLS. López concluded the month with 11 goals in his first MLS season, currently ranked in a tie for 11th place in the race for the MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi.
Lopez started his hot streak on Sept. 15, scoring all three Earthquakes goals in a 4-3 loss to Real Salt Lake at PayPal Park. It was the eighth hat trick scored by a Mexican-born player in league history, which also included the ninth gol olimpico (scored directly from a corner kick) in MLS annals.
In the next match, López then scored a pair of goals, the penalty kick equalizer and the game-winner, to lead the Quakes’ comeback from a two-goal deficit for a 4-3 win against Austin FC at Q2 Stadium on Sept. 18.
The man known as “Chofis” netted his sixth goal of the month, and 11th of the season, to cap a 2-0 San Jose win vs. Los Angeles Football Club on Sept. 25 at PayPal Park, also added his third assist on the season on the third-minute opener from Benji Kikanovic.
López has been named the MLS Player of the Month for the first time, in his first year in the league after arriving from Chivas de Guadalajara in Mexico in the offseason. López was named the MLS Player of the Week for Week 26.
The Earthquakes next return to league action following the international break, when they face Los Angeles Football Club at Banc of California Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 16 (3:30 p.m. ET; Univision / TUDN).
MLS Player of the Month is voted upon by a panel of select national media members in a process conducted by MLS Communications.
