July 16, 2012
NPSL HONOR
Red Bulls Academy's Gurel player of year

New York Red Bulls Academy Under-23 forward John Gurel has been selected as the National Premier Soccer League Player of the Week for the week ending July 15.

Gurel scored two unassisted goals in the first half of Wednesday’s regular season-ending 5-1 win over New York Athletic Club, then headed home the ice-breaker in a 2-0 playoff win over the Morris County Colonials on Saturday, July 14.

On Wednesday, Gurel lifted the Red Bulls Academy to a 2-0 first-half lead over NYAC, beginning with a 40-yard blast in the third minute that pinballed off the right post and the crossbar before sailing back across the goal and settling over the line inside the left post. In the 44th, he brought the ball across the box, then slotted a left-footed shot just inside the left post.

Gurel’s game-winner against Morris County came on a header in the 86th minute of a match that appeared headed for overtime. Mike Innocenzi, who had entered the game as a sub five minutes earlier, relayed a short corner kick to Konrad Plewa, who crossed the ball into the goal area from the right wing. Gurel, positioned 10 yards out from the far post, rose high out of the scramble and nodded the crossing pass home.