LA Galaxy's Mike Magee named MLS Player of the Month

LA Galaxy midfielder Mike Magee has been named MLS Player of the Month for March by the North American Soccer Reporters association. Magee stands atop the Golden Boot list with five goals, achieved in large part due to his hat trick against the Chicago Fire on First Kick weekend. This is the first time in his 11 year career that Magee has won Player of the Month.

"It is a tremendous honor to be voted the MLS Player of the Month and to do so while wearing an LA Galaxy jersey makes it that much better," Magee said. "I have had a successful start to the season and more importantly, so has our team and I look forward to helping to continue that success starting tonight against Monterrey."

Magee's week one performance shot him to the top of the Castrol Index, but he's since dropped to seventh before bouncing back up to fourth. He's got good company in the top ten, with teammates Jack McBean and Jose Villarreal at second and ninth respectively.

The picture being painted is of a veteran leader shepherding two young players to show their full potential. Magee is averaging 1.28 points per ninety minutes, having scored in three of the Galaxy's four MLS matches so far. While not worthy of an intentional assist, his deflected shot did lead to the Jack McBean goal against Chivas USA.

With Landon Donovan returning and Robbie Keane back with the club, it'll be interesting to see if he continues his offensive contributions. Magee has already equaled his career best with the Galaxy in the first month of the year. He needs two more goals to equal his rookie year total with the New York Red Bulls.