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SBI MLS Rookie of the Month: Will Bruin

WillBruin (Getty)

When the Houston Dynamo traded up to grab Indiana striker Will Bruin the deal looked like another shrewd move by head coach Dom Kinnear. A month and a half into his rookie season, Bruin is making Kinnear and the Dynamo look like geniuses.

Bruin has slid right into the Houston starting lineup and been a force, scoring four goals and proving to be a handful for opposing defenses. His hat-trick in Friday's 4-1 win against D.C. United last Friday was worthy of MLS Player of the Week honors, but also solidified his place as the top rookie in Major League Soccer for the month of April.

Bruin was the clear choice ahead of fellow rookies A.J. Soares of New England, C.J. Sapong of Sporting Kansas City, Jalil Anibaba of the Chicago Fire, Rich Balchan of the Columbus Crew and Perry Kitchen of D.C. United, all candidates who should challenge Bruin for MLS Rookie of the Year honors.

What do you think of Bruin's start to the season? What other rookies have impressed you in 2011?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. I understand Vince was a hometown kid but if you’re bitter about the outcome of the Super Mario vs. VY pick then I don’t see how you could ever be happy.

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  2. Lol you Houston fanboys should really let the whole player of the week thing go. It is not that big of a deal.

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  3. It took him a couple of game to get going, but Bruin has emerged as a force for the Dynamo. He is working so well right now with the other striker Cam Weaver. Great draft choice by the team.

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  4. Make up call for player of the week? I’ll take it. He is tied for second in the league in goals. Go Dancing Bear!

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  5. Kind of fun that Matt’s post references a bunch of former Indiana Hoosiers. But I agree with him, Balchan is quietly doing a heck of a job while Bruin is getting some great, and deserved, headlines. Both stepping up and making a seamless transition into big MLS minutes is a story in and of itself.

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  6. As a Crew fan, I wanna put in a quick plug here for Rich Balchan. The kid was drafted to play center-mid or centerback, and he has found himself at centerback in the CCL and as both a right and left back in league play. His versatility for a young player is excellent. He could be the next Danny O’Rourke (hopefully not injured as much) or even Geoff Cameron, both of whom can play multiple positions around the park. He deserves recognition, and while Will Bruin’s MLS start has been great, Balchan has flown under the radar on a stout Crew back line this year.

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