Three from Washington Freedom nominated for 2010 WPS Year-End Awards

The Women’s Professional Soccer announced its 2010 WPS Year-End Award nominations on Monday as voting opened for fans online on the WPS Fancorner at www.womensprosoccer.com. Five separate awards, including the Michelle Akers Player of the Year Award given to the league MVP, will be decided by fan voting (33%), player/coach voting (33%) and media vote (33%). The others include the MedImmune Defender of the Year, Coast Guard Goalkeeper of the Year, WPS Rookie of the Year and WPS Coach of the Year.

The Citi Sportswoman of the Year Award is voted on entirely by players and coaches, while the PUMA Golden Boot award is awarded to the top goal scorer during the 2010 WPS Regular Season. WPS Regular Season champion FC Gold Pride and the Boston Breakers lead the league with six nominees each. The Breakers are the only team with two nominations in one category as both Jordan Angeli and Lauren Cheney are up for the WPS Rookie of the Year Award.
 
Nominees were selected from submissions by teams in which teams could only nominate players from other teams. The Citi Sportswoman of the Year category includes one nomination per team submitted by their clubs. Three of last year\'s winners are up again for the same award in 2010 including Marta (FC Gold Pride), Amy LePeilbet (Boston Breakers) and Hope Solo (Atlanta Beat).
 
The online voting will close for fans on Monday, September 6. Winners will be announced in mid-September.
 
2010 WPS YEAR-END AWARD NOMINATIONS (all nominations in alphabetical order)
 
MICHELLE AKERS PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Awarded to the player judged to have had the greatest impact on her team’s performance during the WPS regular season.
            Marta (FC Gold Pride)
            Amy Rodriguez (Philadelphia Independence)
            Kelly Smith (Boston Breakers)
            Abby Wambach (Washington Freedom)
 
MEDIMMUNE DEFENDER OF THE YEAR – Recognizes a player with an outstanding ability to defend WPS’s best attacking players during the regular season.  The player must play a position that is considered to have key defensive responsibilities (defender or midfielder).  Goalkeepers are not eligible.
            Rachel Buehler (FC Gold Pride)
            Tina Ellertson (Atlanta Beat)            
            Allison Falk (Philadelphia Independence)
            Amy LePeilbet (Boston Breakers)
 
COAST GUARD GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR – Recognizes the goalkeeper who regularly makes outstanding saves and consistently controls her penalty area and defensive zone during the regular season.  Her team’s success is not an overvalued factor in this award.
            Karen Bardsley (Sky Blue FC)
            Nicole Barnhart (FC Gold Pride)
            Jillian Loyden (Chicago Red Stars)
            Hope Solo (Atlanta Beat)
 
WPS ROOKIE OF THE YEAR – Awarded to the rookie – one year removed from playing in college – judged to have had the greatest impact on her team’s performance during the WPS regular season.
            Jordan Angeli (Boston Breakers)
            Lauren Cheney (Boston Breakers)
            Brittany Taylor (Sky Blue FC)
            Ali Riley (FC Gold Pride)
 
WPS COACH OF THE YEAR – Recognizes the head coach who has developed a team that has performed to exceptional levels and demonstrates an attractive and engaging style of play during the regular season.
            Tony DiCicco (Boston Breakers)
            Jim Gabarra (Washington Freedom)
            Albertin Montoya (FC Gold Pride)
            Paul Riley (Philadelphia Independence)
 
CITI SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR – Recognizes the player who demonstrates exemplary community involvement and and/or sportsmanship throughout the season. (Player vote only)
            Rachel Buehler (FC Gold Pride)
            Stephanie Cox (Boston Breakers)
            Allison Falk (Philadelphia Independence)
            Heather O’Reilly (Sky Blue FC)
            Aya Miyama (Atlanta Beat)
            Natalie Spilger (Chicago Red Stars)
            Cat Whitehill (Washington Freedom)