The Silverback's two-goal performance gave the second-year forward the team lead in goals scored.

Horth Named NASL Offensive Player of Week

The Silverback's two-goal performance gave the second-year forward the team lead in goals scored.

September 5, 2012

Atlanta Silverbacks forward Matt Horth has been named North American Soccer League Offensive Player of the Week, the league announced Tuesday.

The 6-foot-3 forward tallied a pair of goals in the Silverbacks’ 2-0 win over FC Edmonton Sunday afternoon at Clarke Stadium in Edmonton, Alberta.The two goals brought Horth’s total to eight for the season, matching his goal output from his rookie season in 2011. He holds the fourth highest goal total in the league this year, tied with Puerto Rico’s Nicholas Addlery and Fort Lauderdale’s Andy Herron.

“It’s always a lot of fun to score goals, but the most important thing is that we got the win and did it with a complete team effort,” Horth said. “On the goals, I got great service from Danny Barrera and Shane Moroney, and it’s certainly a special feeling when you can get a couple goals in any game.”

The Akron, Ohio native joined the Silverbacks in 2011 after a successful four-year career at Gordon College (Mass.). He has tallied 16 goals and two assists in 45 appearances for the club, and has the opportunity to improve on his goal total from last year with four games remaining in 2012.

“It’s always good to see a player rewarded for his hard work. We ask Matt to do a lot of different things for our team and he does well every time,” said Silverbacks Head Coach Brian Haynes. “He had a great game on Sunday, displaying some opportunistic finishing, and he’s a big reason why we were able to leave Edmonton with three points.”

Sunday’s game marked the third time Horth has recorded two goals in a single game, following up braces against the Montreal Impact and Puerto Rico Islanders last season. Horth is the fifth Silverbacks player to be awarded Player of the Week honors this season, joining goalkeeper Daniel Illyes, midfielder Ciaran O’Brien, and forwards Reinaldo Navia and Pedro Mendes.

Horth and the Silverbacks are still fighting for the final NASL playoff spot, but face an uphill climb as they sit eight points behind sixth-place Minnesota with four games to play. The Silverbacks go on the road this Saturday, taking on the Tampa Bay Rowdies at 7:30 p.m. at Al Lang Stadium. The game can be seen live online at atlantasilverbacks.com/live.