Wambach named player of the week, Mia Hamm attending Sunday at SoccerPlex

Just two days after scoring her first goals of the 2009 season, Washington Freedom forward Abby Wambach was selected as the WPS Player of the Week for the week ending April 26.
 
Wambach had two goals and an assist in Washington’s 4-3 win over FC Gold Pride on Sunday, which was also the Freedom’s first win of the season.
 
Wambach entered Sunday’s game having taken the most shots of any player in WPS with 16, but had been unable to find the back of the net. But after making a phone call to former U.S. Women’s National Team and WUSA Washington Freedom teammate Mia Hamm earlier in the week, Wambach scored twice, including the game-winner in the final seconds.
 
“[Hamm] told me a lot of things in terms of not putting too much pressure on myself and not to feel that I have to win games by myself because this is a team sport,” Wambach said of the advice she received. “To have her confidence in me was important and at the end of the day it’s about scoring goals and keeping goals out of your own net.”
 
Wambach and the Freedom will look to add to Sunday’s breakthrough performance when they host Saint Louis Athletica Sunday at the Maryland SoccerPlex at 6 p.m. The game will be televised on FSC and will feature the Hall of Freedom induction ceremony for WUSA Freedom alumnae Hamm and Siri Mullinix.