Joey Gjertsen

Football player infobox
playername = Joey Gjertsen



fullname = Joey Gjertsen

nickname =
height = height|ft=5|in=9
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1982|6|13
cityofbirth = Tacoma, Washington
countryofbirth = U.S.
currentclub = Montreal Impact

clubnumber = 17
position = Forward

youthyears =
youthclubs = Evergreen State College

years = 2005 - 2007
2007 - present
clubs = Vancouver Whitecaps
Montreal Impact
caps(goals) = 74 (18)
37 (1)
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =
pcupdate = July 27, 2007 |

Joey Gjertsen (born June 13, 1982 in Tacoma, Washington) is an American soccer player, who plays for the Montreal Impact of the USL First Division.

Gjertsen started his college soccer at Tacoma Community College where he produced 31 goals and a school record 14 assists in his freshman campaign. He then transferred to Yavapai College where he won a NJCAA national championship. Transferring once again, he enjoyed a successful 2 year career at The Evergreen State College, earning All-American honors, All-Region Team and Region I Player of the year honors in 2003. He was also named as the Conference Player of the Year, as he led the league with 23 goals in 2003. It was during that same season that he once scored 5 goals and an assist in one game, as well as hitting 3 consecutive hat-tricks. At Evergreen, Gjertsen holds the record with 54 career goals after spending only two of his four years at the college.

Gjertsen found instant professional success after signing with Whitecaps in 2005. He was named Team Rookie of the Year, earning 27 caps (15 starts) and findng the back of the net 3 times. 2006 proved to be an even better year for Gjertsen, as he played in all 28 games (26 starts) and led the team in scoring with 31 points (12 goals and 7 assists). He success earned him First Team USL honors, announced in September 2006.

On September 29, 2006, Gjertsen was named USL MVP at the league's championship weekend banquet in Rochester, New York.

After the USL championship game Joey admitted that he felt some extra pressure to live up to the league MVP award and added that the team's success was his first priority. He had to have been happy with the outcome as he was a major contributor to the Whitecaps USL championship in Rochester, NY on September 30th. (It was a dark and rainy night...) The Whitecaps became the first team in USL history to win a championship game on the road as they withstood a fifteen minute all-out attack by the Rhinos to start the game and then dominated their hosts to win 3 - 0 before 10,000 partisan and rain-soaked fans. Vancouver's first goal was ruled an "own goal" by Rochester but it was Joey's strike to the far post that glanced off the defender into the net with ten seconds left in the first half in a classic and decisive turning point in what was an intense defensive struggle to that point. Joey assisted magnificently in the second goal in this game as he took a great pass from David Testo and instantaneously sent it through to a charging Tony Donatelli; Tony held on for an interminable two seconds before powering it home to the back of the net. As Testo said later, "I don't know how Joey saw Tony to pass it to him; I didn't." Testo earned an assist on the final goal with a brilliant pass to Matondo who scored easily to end all doubt. Joey basked in the well-earned glories of being the league's MVP and a key member of the league's championship team. In the next day's Vancouver Province newspaper he thanked Coach Bob Lilley for giving him a shot. As a Tacoma kid who never got a look from Vancouver's arch-rival Seattle Sounders despite starring at nearby Evergreen State College, he said, "If Bob hadn't given me a chance, I wouldn't be playing soccer."

The 'Caps scored 11 goals and only surrendered one (on a free kick) in five playoff games and one OT period. They showed strength and depth at all positions and Joey is bound to be a central figure in the team's commitment to build on this championship for years to come.

Joey was traded to the Montreal Impact on July 26, 2007 along with midfielder David Testo for midfielder Zé Roberto and forward Alen Marcina. On October 24, 2007 he signed a two-year deal with the club [ [http://www.uslsoccer.com/home/210639.html Montreal re-sign 2006 USL-1 MVP] ] .

References

External links

* [http://www.montrealimpact.com/Team/Player.aspx?language=EN&PlayerID=163 player profile]