Cade Cowell topped his performance for the second straight week during the San Jose Earthquakes’ 4-1 win against D.C. United in Major League Soccer play on May 1 at PayPal Park.

The 17-year-old Ceres native entered the record books by becoming the youngest player in MLS history to collect a goal and an assist in consecutive matches.

He had one goal and two assists versus D.C. United.

“Firstly, I am happy for him,” San Jose head coach Matias Almeyda said. “If he is playing, it’s because he deserves it. I repeat what I said last week: he listens. He is humble. He knows he has to keep growing and this is the way. He is capitalizing on his performances with goals and assists. The most difficult thing in soccer is to maintain that level of performance. We will have a calm approach to him as we have been doing so far. He is defending his position, which he has earned.”

Cowell’s outstanding play earned him MLS Player of the Week honors for the first time in his career.

MLS made the announcement on Monday.

Cowell is the third-youngest player in league history to be named Player of the Week.

“Matias (Almeyda) always gives me so much confidence to go out there and just be myself and make mistakes so that’s always a plus,” said Cowell, a 5-foot-11 166-pound forward. “I felt pretty tired towards the end, but it was all good to play the full 90 minutes.”

Cowell scored what proved to be the game-winning goal—the first in his career—in the 26th minute versus D.C. United.

“My main focus is always to beat my defender one-on-one,” he said. “Then next is to look up and see where the keeper is, and I saw that he was off his first post, so I kicked it as soon as I saw he was off. It ended very well so I was very happy with that.”

Cowell set up Javier “Chofis” Lopez and Jackson Yueill in the first and 85th minutes, respectively.

“He (Cade) has the best possible coach he can have at this moment,” Chofis said. “I think Matias (Almeyda) will be able to help him immensely. He knows how he will guide Cade. He (Cade) is honestly a great player and I have no doubts that he will have a great career. We just need to go step by step with him because some players have excellent starts but will slow down. He has great potential.”

Cowell is enjoying a breakout season with the Earthquakes.

He’s netted two goals and dished out three assists, both career highs, through the Earthquakes’ first three games this year.

Cowell and Real Salt Lake’s Rubio Rubin are the only two players in MLS to have more than two goals and two assists this season.

Cowell leads the league in assists and is tied for first with LA Galaxy’s Chicharito for most goals and assists.

Cowell had one goal and one assist while appearing in 17 matches during his second season with the Earthquakes in 2020.

“I definitely feel a lot more comfortable on the ball and I feel more freedom to make mistakes and not try to be so perfect,” he said.

“I try and play as quick as possible,” he added. “I’m still learning how to do one-touch passes, checking and all that. But I definitely am more comfortable the more I play so that helps a lot.”