Eric Calvillo and Kobi Moyal celebrate a goal in the Cosmos’ 3-1 win. (Photo courtesy of the Cosmos)

For the second time in three weeks, Eric Calvillo was named the FrontRowSoccer.com player of the week Monday.

Calvillo, who scored twice in the Cosmos’ 3-1 home win over NASL spring champion Miami FC, was honored for the week ending Sunday.

The 19-year-old U.S. youth international struck for his first professional multi-goal game against the North American Soccer League spring champions.

That gave Calvillo three goals in his past two games.

Calvillo’s production and overall box-to-box performance didn’t surprise head coach Giovanni Savarese.

“Eric has always has been a player who has been very competitive, always hungry, wanting to play,” he said. “He has been patient waiting for his opportunity. Last year he had a chance to step in and he had a fantastic game against Minnesota, scoring a goal.

“Little by little this year, he’s been waiting for that opportunity and when he had it he took advantage of it. Every game he gets better and better. Today, the second goal was fantastic. He’s playing in a different position. He’s playing on the right side. He’s done very, very well. He’s continuing to develop and grow.”

https://www.facebook.com/nycosmos/videos/1382965025073976/

During a 15-minute span in the second half, the 5-7, 138-lb. Calvillo took center stage for the Cosmos. First, he rammed home a rebound of Ayoze’s penalty kick that bounded off the crossbar. It was no mistake that Calvillo was at the right place at the right time when he sprinted from outside the penalty area to the right side of the penalty to give the Cosmos a 1-0 lead in the 64th minute.

“It’s all on the player taking the PK,” Calvillo said. “I step maybe a couple of steps back from the 18. When he starts making his run, that’s when I start making my run. so I timed it by that.”

Actually, Calvillo gave Savarese credit for reminding him to bolt into the area.

“He’s screaming at me from behind,” he said. “I turn around and he’s telling me to run in and that’s exactly what I did. The ball came right to me and I finished my chance.”

After Miami equalized, right back Ryan Richter told Calvillo that he had another goal left in him.

Calvillo responded, saying that the first goal boosted his self-worth to drill a 25-yard shot home that snapped a 1-1 draw.

“It gave me the full confidence that I needed,” he added. “After scoring that first goal, I knew that I could keep continuing to help my team in any possible way, especially after their first goal.”

https://www.facebook.com/nycosmos/videos/1384328738270938/

Videos courtesy of the Cosmos Facebook page

 

FrontRowSoccer.com player of the week winners

Week 1 (March 6) — Joseph Bendik (Orlando City SC)

Week 2 (March 13) — David Villa (New York City FC)

Week 3 (March 20) — Rodney Wallace (New York City FC)

Week 4 (March 27) — Vincent Bezecourt (New York Red Bulls II)

Week 5 (April 3) — Ronald Matarrita (New York City FC)

Week 6 (April 10) — Jimmy Maurer (New York Cosmos)

Week 7 (April 17) — Tyler Adams (New York Red Bulls)

Week 8 (April 24) — Alex Muyl (New York Red Bulls)

Week 9 (May 1) — Jack Harrison (New York City FC)

Week 10 (May 8) — Rodney Wallace (New York City FC)

Week 11 (May 15) — Sam Kerr (Sky Blue FC)

Week 12 (May 22) — David Villa (New York City FC)

Week 13 (May 29) — Kemar Lawrence (New York Red Bulls)

Week 14 (June 5) — Alex Callens and Maxime Chanot (New York City FC)

Week 15 (June 12) — No award given

Week 16 (June 19) — Bradley Wright-Phillips (New York Red Bulls), David Villa (New York City FC)

Week 17 (June 26) — Ben Sweat (New York City FC)

Week 18 (July 3) — Sam Kerr (Sky Blue FC)

Week 19 (July 10) — Sam Kerr (Sky Blue FC)

Week 20 (July 17) — Eric Calvillo (New York Cosmos)

Week 21 (July 24) — Daniel Royer (New York Red Bulls)

Week 22 (July 31) — Eric Calvillo (New York Cosmos)

 

 

 

 

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.