Chris Rolfe wins MLS Player of the Week

Chris Rolfe dropped a hat trick and two assists in Chicago's 5-2 thrashing of the New York Red Bulls to win the MLS Player of the Week award for week 31.

"It was a good win and a great way to finish the regular season and head into the playoffs," Rolfe said after the win. "I think it might have been the first time since high school that I had a hat trick"

Rolfe got all three of his goals in a 33-minute span of the first half last Thursday night to help his team wrap up the second seed in the East and home field advantage for its Eastern Conference Semifinal match up with the New England Revolution.

The 25-year-old got things started early with an 11th-minute headed effort off of a cross from rookie Stephen King that found the net and gave Chicago its first lead. New York would equalize in the 32nd before Rolfe claimed the lead for his team a second time in the 38th. A poor clearance gave the Chicago midfielder just enough space to bring the ball off of his chest and hammer a volley into the upper left corner.

Chris would score his final regular season goal of 2008 just six minutes later when Cuauhtemoc Blanco's heel pass sent him through on goal, giving Rolfe his ninth tally of the season and his first career hat trick.

The second half would see more of the same from Chicago and Rolfe, who assisted on goals to Brian McBride and Daniel Woolard, giving him a hand in all five Fire goals on the night and earning the Ohio native his first player of the week award.

The Fire will need Rolfe to continue his fine prime time form Thursday night when they renew their playoff rivalry with New England in Foxboro, Mass.