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W-League Picks Its 2009 All-League Team
W-League All-League Teams unveiled
United Soccer Leagues announced the second set of honors for the 2009 W-League season, unveiling the All-League Team and Goalkeeper of the Year honors as well as the finalists for the U-19 Player of the Year, Defender of the Year, Coach of the Year and MVP awards as voted on by the league’s coaches and general managers.
W-League 2009 All-League Team
Goalkeeper of the Year – Michelle Betos (Atlanta Silverbacks)
In her first season in the league, Betos helped lead the Silverbacks to the regular season division title with a 10-1-1 record, posting a mark of 9-1-1 herself. She finished second in the league in goals against average at 0.188 and in shutouts with nine. She also was tied for second in wins.
Defender – Ashleigh Gunning (Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues)
Having previously played for Cocoa and Charlotte, Gunning provided a veteran presence for the upstart squad as they went on to post an unbeaten 12-0-2 regular season record and capture the league’s regular season title. Hudson Valley allowed just nine goals in 14 games with Gunning seeing action in 13. She also provided two goals and two assists in the attack.
Defender – Ria Percival (Ottawa Fury)
After a brief taste of W-League action with FC Indiana last year, Percival moved north of the border to join the Fury and help guide the club to an 11-1-2 record with only nine goals allowed. She appeared in all 14 games, playing every minute and providing five assists on the year.
Defender – Brittany Taylor (Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues)
In her debut season in the league, she helped guide the team to an unbeaten 12-0-2 season and capture the league’s regular season title. In the nine games she played, Taylor was a threat in the attack, coming forward for three goals on the season.
Midfielder – Gemma Davidson (Chicago Red Eleven)
After spending 2008 with New York, Davidson helped lead the Red Eleven to a 10-1-1 record on the season, finishing just one point back of unbeaten FC Indiana in the division race. She played in eight games on the year, tallying six goals and two assists.
Midfielder – Michelle French (Seattle Sounders)
A five-time All-Conference selection, French is still one of the top players in the west and had the Sounders on the verge of the postseason before their final winless three-game trip to California. She played in all 12 games and provided four goals and an assist.
Midfielder – Rosa Tantillo (Buffalo Flash)
Playing in a tough division, the expansion Flash finished second with a record of 9-2-3 on the year. Helping lead the way was Tantillo, a member of last year’s champion Pali Blues. She saw action in all 14 games and provided eight goals and two assists in the campaign.
Midfielder – Nikki Washington (Pali Blues)
With many of its top players gone from the 2008 championship side for Women’s Professional Soccer, Washington stepped in and helped lead the Blues to another unbeaten season at 9-0-3 and a second straight conference title. She tallied five goals and two assists in nine games on the campaign.
Forward – Laura Del Rio (FC Indiana Lionesses)
The 2008 league assist leader captured the scoring titles she narrowly missed out on last year by finishing the campaign with 18 goals and four assists. She helped lead the side to the league’s best offensive output of 63 goals and a 10-0-2 record, coming up just shy of the regular season title.
Forward – Amber Hearn (Ottawa Fury)
With 13 goals and two assists on the year, Hearn helped lead the Fury to an 11-1-2 record and the division title. She was tied for fourth in the league in goals and sixth in points.
Forward – Angelika Johansson (Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues)
Johansson was a key component in the club’s attack en route to winning the regular season title with a record of 12-0-2 and 40 goals. The striker found the back of net 14 times and provided eight assists, finishing second in the league in points, tied for second in goals and tied for third in assists.
W-League 2009 Individual Honors
In addition to the previously announced statistical award winners and the Goalkeeper of the Year, four other top individual honors are still to be announced. The winners of the awards will be announced Wednesday, August 5 from the following finalists in each category:
Defender of the Year Finalists
The three All-League selections Gunning, Percival and Taylor are the finalists for the honor.
U19 Player of the Year Finalists
The finalists for the award are Sarah Chapman (Tampa Bay), Chante Sandiford (Washington) and Fortuna Velaj (Connecticut).
Coach of the Year Finalists
The finalists for the award are Tony Anglin (Chicago), Fabien Cottin (Quebec City), George Fotopoulos (Tampa Bay) and Jesse Kolmel (Hudson Valley).
Most Valuable Player Finalists
The finalists for the award are Laura Del Rio (FC Indiana), Amber Hearn (Ottawa) and Angelika Johansson (Hudson Valley).
W-League 2009: Ottawa In, Toronto Out, Vancouver Out
The Ottawa Fury Women (10-1-2) clinched their 6th consecutive division title after a 1-1 draw against the Buffalo Flash (8-2-3). Anna Caniglia put the Fury ahead after 20 minutes, but Maria Ruiz pulled Buffalo even late in injury time after being award a questionable penalty kick.
In their last meeting on June 12 Ottawa came out 1-0 victors, an outcomes that almost repeated itself again. Both teams came out hungry early keeping the defenders of both sides on their toes. Ria Percival lofted in a free kick in the 20th minute which Michelle Evans rifled off the crossbar and Anna Caniglia headed home. The Fury continued to press after the goal, but Buffalo countered with several rushes of their own and almost drew even when Pamela Conti’s header hit the crossbar and stayed out. Before the half was out Michelle Evans was also denied by the crossbar after she curled a free kick in on goal from 20 yards out.
Leading after 45 minutes the Fury continued to generate chances early and the games tempo continued to rise. Maria Ruiz found herself alone in front of goal in the 74th minute but fired over the bar after several minutes of Buffalo pressure. The Flash were awarded a penalty kick deep into injury time much to the dismay of the Fury players and coaching staff. Maria Ruiz who had be unlucky all evening long pulled Buffalo even and helping their chances at 2nd place if they can manage at least a draw against Laval tomorrow.
The Fury Women close out the regular season tomorrow against Rochester (0-12-1) and will begin the playoffs next Saturday at a location to be announced.
Next Game
vs Rochester Ravens
Sunday, July 19 at 6pm
Algonquin College Soccer Complex
Vancouver Whitecaps
Vancouver Whitecaps FC women concluded their W-League season on a down note Sunday afternoon, losing 4-1 away to Real Colorado Cougars.
Full Story
Toronto Lady Lynx
The Toronto Lady Lynx capped off their 2009 season with an exclamation point this afternoon, routing the visiting Quebec City Amiral 2-0.
Full Story
Other Canadian Action
Ottawa vs Rochester 7:0
Hamilton vs London 3:0
Buffalo vs Laval 2:1
Lady Lynx End Fury Undefeated Season
Lady Lynx Shock Fury
Top W-League leader Ottawa 2-0
MISSASSUGA — The Toronto Lady Lynx emphatically snapped their four-game winless streak with a stunning 2-0 victory over the previously-undefeated Ottawa Fury at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga this afternoon. Giselle Mangal and Erica Henderson netted second-half goals to power Toronto to their first-ever home win against their bitter Ontario rivals.
The Lady Lynx even up their record at 4-4-4 (16 points) on the year, while the Fury fall to 9-1-1 (28 points) on the year. The two teams split the season series with one win each. Justine Bernier earned her third shutout of the year in net for Toronto in the victory.
Ottawa, who entered the match with the best record in the W-League, opened the first half with a strong wind at their back, and came at the Lady Lynx early. Toronto’s defense held fast and did not allow the Fury to turn their possession advantage into scoring chances.
The solid defensive effort in the first half energized the young Lady Lynx squad, and they took control of the game early after intermission. Five minutes into the second frame, Fury ‘keeper Jasmine Philips was unable to corral a loose ball in the six-yard box, and Mangal knocked it into the netting for her second goal of the year, giving Toronto a 1-0 lead.
Eight minutes later, Lady Lynx co-captain Clare Rustad curled a free kick from just outside the penalty area towards goal, where it found the head of a leaping Henderson. The Rochester native powered it past Philips into the goal and Toronto had an insurmountable 2-0 advantage. The Fury pressed until the final whistle, but Bernier and the rest of the Lady Lynx defense denied the attack and Toronto claimed the three points.
The Lady Lynx’ now head into the final week of the regular season and wrap up their schedule with two home games. The Hamilton Lady Avalanche travel up the QEW to the Hershey Centre on Thursday evening for a 7:30 PM kick-off, and the Quebec City Amiral make their first-ever visit on Saturday afternoon, July 18, for a 5:00 PM encounter.
Tickets can be purchased by calling the Lynx ticket hotline at 416-251-4625 x 31, or at the stadium box office one hour prior to kick-off.
Toronto Lineup
Bernier, Chapman, Henderson, Mailloux, Rustad, Clarke, MacDonald, Frederick, Agueci, Morra (Ruhe Lischke, 67), Mangal (Urbas, 60)
Ottawa Lineup
Philips, Percival, Caniglia, Johnson, Bethke (Wtezel, 67), Moorwood, Houliston (Romagnuolo, 13), Raber (Kete, 58), Hearn, Evans
Game Stats Toronto-Ottawa
Cautions: 2 (Henderson, 25; MacDonald, 32) – 0
Shots: 5-14
Saves: 9-5
Fouls: 9-10
Offsides: 0-2
Corners: 1-3
Scorers
Toronto
Mangal (Morra) 50′
Henderson (Rustad) 58′
Lady Lynx Next Game
vs Hamilton
July 16 at 7:30 PM
The Hershey Centre
More W-League Action
Quebec City vs Hamilton 4:0
Buffalo vs London 5:0
Laval vs Hamilton 4:0
London vs Rochester 3:0
