Horth Named NASL Player of the Month

Atlanta Silverbacks forward Matt Horth has been named NASL’s September Player of the Month, the league announced Friday.

The award caps off a strong 2012 season for Horth, who has starred for the Silverbacks since signing his first professional contract out of Gordon College (Mass.) in early 2011. The 6-foot-3 forward was a near unanimous choice among the media for NASL Player of the Month after tallying four goals in five games during the month of September.

“It’s always nice to be recognized, especially as the Player of the Month because I think it shows that I have been able to stay consistent and string together some solid performances,” Horth said. “At the same time, I owe a lot to my teammates and the hard work that they have put in, so I can’t take the honor all for myself. It’s still a nice achievement and I really appreciate the award.”

The Akron, Ohio, native improved on his goal total from his rookie season, going from eight goals in 2011 to 10 in 2012. Horth battled injuries during the first half of the season, making his goal scoring total even more impressive. He tallied all 10 of his goals over a 12-game period during the second half of the season.

The Silverbacks ended the season with the league’s top record over the last nine games, and Horth’s scoring run was a big part of the team’s success. The 23-year-old forward started off the month of September with a pair of goals in the Silverbacks’ 2-0 win over FC Edmonton at Clarke Stadium. He followed up that performance by scoring goals in the team’s next two games, a 1-1 draw on the road against the Tampa Bay Rowdies and a 1-0 win over the Fort Lauderdale Strikers in Atlanta.  

“Any award that Matt gets is a product of his preparation and hard work,” said Silverbacks Head Coach Brian Haynes. “He is the ultimate professional, so when he scores goals, it never surprises me. I’m happy that Matt is being recognized like this because he deserves it.”

Horth has notched 18 goals in 49 appearances for the club, putting him second all-time on the franchise scoring list.

This article was written by the Atlanta Silverbacks.