Christian Ramirez, 2014 NASL Golden Boot Winner, Awarded NASL Player of Month
Soccer News: Minnesota United FC forward Christian Ramirez has earned North American Soccer League (NASL) Player of the Month honors after tallying four goals and two assists in July. The 24-year-old forward received the most media votes, edging Ottawa Fury FC‘s Richie Ryan.
The Garden Grove, California, native has scored a goal in each of his last four matches, leading a Minnesota attack that found the net 13 times in July. The Loons have picked up eight points in their last four encounters, and continue to move up in both the NASL Fall Season and Combined Standings.
“I want just want to thank God, my friends, family, girlfriend, and most importantly my teammates for pushing me through a rough patch early on and telling me that it’s a long season and that I would get my opportunity to help the team,” Ramirez said. “I’m thankful I could fill the role the team has needed of me this month and going forward to help continue to grow and climb the table. I’m accepting this honor on behalf of my teammates because a lot of the guys’ work goes unnoticed.”
After entering July with only a goal and an assist to his name this year, Ramirez has seemingly recaptured the form that won him the 2014 NASL Golden Boot award as the league’s top scorer (20 goals).
Ramirez was on target in Minnesota’s 1-1 draw with current league leaders, Ottawa Fury FC, on July 11. He then notched a goal and an assist four days later in the Loons’ 4-0 win over visiting Jacksonville Armada FC. After an off week, Ramirez kept his scoring streak alive on July 25 with another goal and assist in Minnesota’s 4-3 road win over San Antonio. The 6-foot-2 forward snuck in a fourth goal on the final day of the month, finding the net in a 3-3 draw in Jacksonville on Friday night.
“Christian continues to push himself in training and in games, and he has certainly been an influence in terms of the team’s success this past month,” said Minnesota head coach Manny Lagos. “It’s fun to see him out there pushing himself to higher levels. It’s important for us as a club to have him playing at this level as we head into an important stretch of the season.”
With Ramirez’s help, the Loons have scored 11 times in their last three outings, and currently sit in third place in the Fall Season Standings. The club is also firmly in the mix in the Combined Standings, trailing first-place Ottawa by just five points. If Minnesota can continue its red-hot attacking form, a place in The Championship, the league’s four-team postseason tournament, could be in the cards for a second straight year.
The Loons have a busy week ahead, first visiting the New York Cosmos at Shuart Stadium on Wednesday before returning home to host FC Edmonton on Saturday.
