Dakota Fusion FC forward Jade Johnson has been selected as the nineteenth and final Mitre National Player of the Week for the 2017 NPSL season.
“This is more of a team achievement to me than an individual accolade based off of what we’ve been able to accomplish over the past two weeks,” Johnson commented. “The preparation and dedication in the offseason, as well as the sacrifices made over the best months of the year in North Dakota, is beginning to pay itself off heading into the regional playoffs this weekend.”
Johnson’s hat trick against the Minnesota TwinStars brought his season total to 17 goals, one shy of the Golden Boot lead.
“Jade had been an integral part of our team and our success in our inaugural year with the Fusion,” Dakota Fusion head coach Jim Robbins added. “He possesses a unique combination of size, strength, speed, power, and goal scoring ability. He is very difficult to defend in 1v1 situations and he can beat defenders and score with either foot. Most teams try to double team him whenever possible, sometimes they even try to defend him with three. He has earned his place as the top goalscorer in our conference and is one of the top goal scorers in the entire NPSL.”
Johnson grew up in West Fargo, North Dakota, graduating from West Fargo High School before majoring in Computer Science and Information Technology at the University of Jamestown (ND) beginning in 2011. As part of the soccer program at UJ, Johnson was selected as an NAIA All-American twice in his career and still holds the program record for goals scored (35), points (87), and games played (77).
Johnson is currently working full-time as an Applications Systems Specialist at Agricover Inc. as well as working part-time at the Jamestown Regional Airport. Working two jobs in Jamestown, ND as well playing for the Dakota Fusion, located 100 miles away in Fargo, ND has produced a challenging schedule for the Fusion’s leading goalscorer.
The winner of this national honor is determined by a vote of media members from across the country. It is awarded every week during the regular season.
