TUKWILA — Two days after his late-game heroics gave Seattle a 1-0 win over Sporting Kansas City, Sounders FC defender Jeff Parke was named Major League Soccer’s player of the week.
Parke, who headed in a Tyson Wahl corner kick in stoppage time for the game-winning goal, became the first defender to earn the honor since Chad Marshall of Columbus won in week 22 of the 2009 season. Parke, who edged out Philadelphia’s Carlos Ruiz for player-of-the week honors, is the first Sounder to win the award this season.
In addition to scoring the game winner, Parke helped Seattle post its first shutout in four games. The goal was Parke’s first since 2004, his rookie season.
“I don’t get goals too often,” Parke said after Monday’s practice. “It’s just a good feeling.”
‘Not much’ to goalkeeper rumor
A report out of Poland was picked up on the MLS website saying that Sounders FC had offered a contract to Jerzy Dudek, a Polish goalkeeper who spent the past four seasons as a backup for the Spanish club Real Madrid. While there are countless rumors in European soccer regarding player movements — many of which turn out to go nowhere — this one seemingly made sense because Dudek, 38, is a free agent and Seattle will need a new starting keeper next season after Kasey Keller retires.
But even if Seattle does have interest in Dudek, Sounders FC general manager Adrian Hanauer said there was no truth to the report that a contract has been offered.
“Good goalkeeper, and something certainly we’re looking at for next year,” Hanauer said. “We obviously have to figure out whether it’s one of our guys or someone else we’re bringing in. But unless (technical director Chris Henderson) is moonlighting by flying to Poland, there’s not much to this. … I definitely didn’t make an offer to Dudek.”
Herald Writer John Boyle: jboyle@heraldnet.com.
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