Photo: Paul Rudderow

From a team perspective, the two games this past week against Real Salt Lake and Houston have been disappointing. First, a demoralizing tie, the lead given up late in stoppage time, and the second a weary loss after a long eight days with three games. The Union, as a whole, are sliding.

One man, however, is playing as well or better as he has all season (and that’s saying something, considering his previous level of play): Conor Casey.

Casey’s already been chosen as PSP’s Player of the Week twice in his short Union career, showing just how sharp he has been since his return from last season’s injury problems. Early season concerns about his fitness levels have largely disappeared, and he’s served notice that he’s more than capable of carrying the scoring load with Jack McInerney away for the Gold Cup.

Against RSL, Casey set up Sébastien Le Toux’s opener with a forty yard run down the right side. At the end line, he cut the ball back so hard that the retreating defender slid off the field. After RSL equalized, late in the second half, Casey made another long run, this time so he could be in position to put away Antoine Hoppenot’s cut-back, which put the Union back on top, for a time.

Against Houston, Casey was one of the few in Union blue with energy, drive, and commitment. That he was unable to conjure a goal was hardly down to his own effort, which was prodigious.

With 6 goals—on only 27 shots—and 3 assists, Casey is on pace to have one of the most productive seasons in his career. All that from a guy some weren’t sure could still play. For proving that he can not only play, but carry a team, he’s PSP’s Player of the Week.