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Hustler of the week: Blair Gavin, Portland Timbers 2

Sometimes, you've got to give it up for the little guy. Plus almost no other MAC player did well this week, aside from DeAndre Yedlin of course. So this week's goes to Blair Gavin of T2.

Portland Timbers midfielder Blair Gavin takes a shot against Stabaek during the first half at Providence Park
Portland Timbers midfielder Blair Gavin takes a shot against Stabaek during the first half at Providence Park
USA TODAY Sports

I love acknowledging the little guy.

Whether it be a lesser-known player who doesn't receive a lot of attention on big team or a player on a team that doesn't get a lot of attention, there's something special about giving credit where credit is due.

So instead of praising DeAndre Yedlin -- yet again -- for a sterling appearance against Germany, I've decided to give this week's Hustler of the Week award to Blair Gavin of Portland Timbers 2 in the USL.

Gavin is not exactly a little guy, standing at six foot tall. He also is no stranger to big goals -- after all his made penalty sent the Zips into the national championship over UNC -- but as a defensive midfielder by trade, he's not accustomed to scoring a lot of goals. So imagine his surprise when he scored a brilliant opener against the Austin Aztecs on Sunday.

Gavin, who is the captain of T2, sent a rocket in to the back left corner after being set up by Kharlton Belmar to give Portland a 1-0 lead in the 41 minute. T2 would go on to win 3-1 with Austin reduced to 10 men, but Gavin's goal was the pick of the bunch.

The goal was also Gavin's first of the season for T2. With many players in the Timbers' defensive midfield going down with injuries or still in recovery, it should be comforting to Caleb Porter that he has players like Gavin that he can call up from the USL to be supplanted in their place.