Houston Dynamo forward Erick “Cubo” Torres was named Major League Soccer’s Player of the Week for Week 5 by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR), MLS announced today.

Torres made history when he recorded a hat trick in a 4-1 victory over the New York Red Bulls at BBVA Compass Stadium on Saturday, becoming the second Mexican player in MLS history to accomplish the feat. With the hat trick, the first of his career, Torres now leads MLS with six tallies, while Houston’s combined 11 team goals are tied for second in the league. Houston sits in second place in the Western Conference (3-1-0, nine points), holding a perfect 3-0-0 record at home.

“Cubo” scored a goal in his fourth consecutive match with a well struck penalty kick in the 41st minute to give Houston a 2-1 advantage (Watch Goal). Torres would then score his second goal 15 minutes later, firing a curling shot past goalkeeper Luis Robles (Watch Goal). With the goal, Torres recorded his first multi-goal performance since September 2013, pushing Houston’s lead to 3-1.

Torres completed his hat trick in the 91st minute with a beautiful curling free kick from the top of the box, giving the game a final score of 4-1 (Watch Goal).

For the 24-year-old Mexican international, the honor is the second of his career. Torres was named MLS Player of the Week 17 of 2014. This marks the 16th time that a Dynamo player was recognized as MLS Player of the Week and the first time since forward Mauro Manotas received the honor in Week 29 of 2016. Former Dynamo forward Brian Ching was named MLS Player of the Week four times with the Dynamo, while Brad Davis earned the honor three times and Will Bruin and Dwayne De Rosario each earned it twice.

HOUSTON DYNAMO PLAYERS NAMED MLS PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Player Season Week Opponent Erick Torres 2017 5 New York Red Bulls Mauro Manotas 2016 29 Portland Timbers Andrew Wenger 2016 2 FC Dallas Will Bruin 2013 11 D.C. United Brad Davis 2013 7 Chicago Fire Calen Carr 2012 20 Sporting Kansas City Will Bruin 2011 7 D.C. United Brian Ching 2010 21 Chicago Fire Brad Davis 2009 27 Real Salt Lake Brian Ching 2008 28 Colorado Rapids Brian Ching 2008 11 New York Red Bulls Stuart Holden 2007 14 New York Red Bulls Brad Davis 2007 12 Chivas USA Dwayne De Rosario 2007 5 Colorado Rapids Dwayne De Rosario 2006 6 FC Dallas Brian Ching 2006 1 Colorado Rapids

The Dynamo continue the 2017 season, presented by 76, on Saturday, April 8 at 1 p.m. CDT at the New England Revolution. That game will be televised live on KUBE TV Ch. 57, with the pregame show starting at 12:30 p.m. The Dynamo return home on Saturday, April 15 to face Minnesota United FC at 7:30 p.m. CDT.

Tickets for all regular season games start at $25 and are on sale now at HoustonDynamo.com, by phone at 713-276-GOAL and at the BBVA Compass Stadium box office. Partial Season Ticket Plans for the 2017 home campaign are also available online at HoustonDynamo.com/2017 or by phone at 713-276-GOAL.