Rauwshan McKenzie and Junior Burgos Receive NASL Team of the Week Honors
Soccer News: The Atlanta Silverbacks have lost just once in their last seven matches, including Aug. 29’s 1-0 victory over the visiting FC Edmonton and no two Silverbacks have loomed larger than center back Rauwshan McKenzie and midfielder Junior Burgos. For their efforts in Week 9 of the North American Soccer League (NASL) Fall Season, both McKenzie and Burgos earned NASL Team of the Week honors.
For McKenzie, its his second league honor while its Burgos’ first Team of the Week recognition. The league announced the honors on Wednesday.
Burgos bent and buried the game-winner over the Eddies — an 81st minute free kick from more than 30 yards — and McKenzie captained the Silverbacks (6-8-7, 26 points Combined Table) to their fifth clean sheet of the year in place of the suspended Simon Mensing.
“Both performed to a level that is deserving of all the accolades,” Silverbacks head coach Gary Smith said. “Rauwshan wore the armband with a lot of dignity and I think he put in the best performance I’ve seen. He was a leader and his defensive organization was the foundation of the victory. And with Junior, what else can be said about that goal? He’s a special player that can do spectacular things with a free kick — things I haven’t seen many other do.”
McKenzie has quietly served as the rutter for Atlanta, steering the team on two separate unbeaten runs of at least four matches. He’s played every minute of the Silverbacks’ 21 matches, leading the league with 1,890 minutes. With McKenzie in central defense, the Silverbacks have blanked five opponents and allowed just 26 goals in 21 matches — only first-place New York (20) and second-place Ottawa (18) have allowed fewer goals, but with one fewer game played.
The 6-foot-1 center back has appeared in 39 MLS matches since 2008, nailing down defensive duties for the Kansas City Wizards (2008-09), Real Salt Lake (2010-11), Chivas USA (2012) and the Portland Timbers (2013-14). The 28-year-old was drafted by Kansas City in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft out of Michigan State – where he earned Freshman All-Big-10 team and 1st Team All-Big-10 honors.
Aside from his more than 3,100 MLS minutes, McKenzie played 180 minutes against Mexican powerhouse Cruz Azul in two CONCACAF Champions League appearances for Real Salt Lake and one for Portland — where he scored his first career goal in a 4-2 victory over CD Olimpia. He also helped the Timbers claim a pair of international club friendlies – both 1-0 victories over Mexico’s Monarcas Morelia and the English Premier League’s Norwich City.
Burgos, a 27-year-old Salvadorian international, earned his second honor in as many days for his 81st minute winner. The physics-defying free kick to win the match, 1-0, was his third since joining the Silverbacks for the Fall Season and was nominated for NASL Play of the Week on Tuesday. Burgos is a set piece sniper, having already claimed one Play of the Week recognition in Week 6 of the Fall.
Against Edmonton, Burgos lined up the 32-yard free kick and swung the bender over the wall and inside the near post. The single goal was all the Silverbacks needed to clinch maximum points at home.
He rejoined the Silverbacks for the 2015 Fall Season after 17 appearances with the Club in 2014. He’s collected nine career goals in a Silverbacks shirt, including three goals and three assists in Atlanta’s historic Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup run that collected the scalps of Real Salt Lake and the Colorado Rapids. In 17 NASL and four Open Cup appearances with Atlanta, Burgos scored unstoppable strikes from distance against the Tampa Bay Rowdies, New York Cosmos, Real Salt Lake and two against Chattanooga FC.
His knack for goal scoring earned him eight caps with the Salvadorian National Team, where he scored a crisp header in a friendly against Nicaragua on Jan. 31, 2014. Burgos is the son of Salvadorian international Efrain Burgos Sr., who played professionally in El Salvador with Once Lobos, FAS, C.D. Atlético Marte, Isidro Metapan, Alianza and Guatemalan side Cobán Imperial.
Burgos joined Colombian side Jaguares de Córdoba with former Silverbacks teammate Junior Sandoval, appearing in two domestic competition matches following the 2014 season. After a mutual agreement to leave Jaguares, he returned to Atlanta.
The Santa Ana, El Salvador, native was drafted 44th overall in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft, making a pair of appearances with Toronto FC. He was with Toronto when the Club raised the Canadian Championship in 2012.
The Silverbacks visit the Carolina RailHawks on Friday before returning to Atlanta Silverbacks Park on Sept. 15 to host Minnesota United.
Main Image Photo Credit: Mike Beaverson
