|
|
Goal.com’s WPS Player Of Week 5: Abby Wambach
With eleven goals scored in three games over the weekend, it wasn't easy to pick a player of the week. But U.S. National Team forward Abby Wambach led her team with heart, passion, a couple of goals and an assist to earn the title.
Apr 27, 2009 11:06:49 PM
In week five of Women’s Professional Soccer action, the goals finally started pouring into the net. Fans had been waiting for one of America’s sweethearts to tally a goal. U.S. National team forward Abby Wambach did just that, twice. She led Washington Freedom to their first WPS win. And for that, Goal.com has named her their player of the week.
“With two goals, including the match-winner, and one assist, she really did lead her team to the win,” Goal.com’s Jennifer Dawson said. “Her contributions to her team's first win of the season cannot be over-emphasized. Abby's brace, two headers from set-pieces, exemplify both her skill and her determination as she out-jumped and out-muscled her opponents. Now that Abby has started scoring, her opponents will be hard-pressed to figure out how to stop her.”
In 127 appearances for the U.S. Women, Wambach tallied 99 goals. Her shots were adding up and finally after 288 scoreless WPS minutes, Wambach found the net. She added an assist on Lori Lindsey’s goal in the 51st minute. And then in stoppage time, Wambach tallied the game-winner earning the Freedom a 4-3 win.
“Wambach scored twice in Washington's 4-3 win including the game winner and added an assist. Her day is even more impressive when you consider that the team had only scored twice in three previous matches,” Goal.com’s Allen Ramsey said.
After four games, Wambach has 19 shots, including nine on goal and two goals. And now she’s proven that she’s more than deserving of wearing the captain’s armband.
“When your captain scores twice and notches an assist in your team's first win, she's pretty much a lock as the top performer that week,” Goal.com’s Zac Rigg said.
The Chicago Red Stars impressive 4-0 win over the Boston Breakers also merited a few nominations. Karen Carney, Carli Lloyd, Caroline Jonsson and Brittany Klein all received nods. Carney tallied a goal and an assist. Lloyd opened the scoring with a goal in the 21st minute. Jonsson collected her third shutout. Klein added a goal and two assists.
“You can argue that there are at least three Red Stars' players who deserve to be named Player of the Week, but I have to go with midfielder Karen Carney,” Goal.com’s Christa Mann said. “She at least contributed the key pass, through ball, shot or assist that led to every one of Chicago's best chances on goal.”
Goalkeepers Karina LeBlanc (Los Angeles) and Hope Solo (Saint Louis) also received nods. LeBlanc tallied a penalty kick save and her fourth clean sheet, while keeping the Sol undefeated. Solo stopped a penalty kick and earned her first shutout of the season.
“Alright, Solo’s team hasn't won, but saving a penalty kick to prevent the loss was still impressive,” Goal.com Editor Andrea Canales said. “It can't be easy to go from a team that hardly ever loses to one that can't manage a win. But Solo has been tough at the back and gives the team the expectation to turn things around.”
Goal.com
For more on Women’s Professional Soccer, go to Goal.com’s Women’s Soccer page.
“With two goals, including the match-winner, and one assist, she really did lead her team to the win,” Goal.com’s Jennifer Dawson said. “Her contributions to her team's first win of the season cannot be over-emphasized. Abby's brace, two headers from set-pieces, exemplify both her skill and her determination as she out-jumped and out-muscled her opponents. Now that Abby has started scoring, her opponents will be hard-pressed to figure out how to stop her.”
In 127 appearances for the U.S. Women, Wambach tallied 99 goals. Her shots were adding up and finally after 288 scoreless WPS minutes, Wambach found the net. She added an assist on Lori Lindsey’s goal in the 51st minute. And then in stoppage time, Wambach tallied the game-winner earning the Freedom a 4-3 win.
“Wambach scored twice in Washington's 4-3 win including the game winner and added an assist. Her day is even more impressive when you consider that the team had only scored twice in three previous matches,” Goal.com’s Allen Ramsey said.
After four games, Wambach has 19 shots, including nine on goal and two goals. And now she’s proven that she’s more than deserving of wearing the captain’s armband.
“When your captain scores twice and notches an assist in your team's first win, she's pretty much a lock as the top performer that week,” Goal.com’s Zac Rigg said.
The Chicago Red Stars impressive 4-0 win over the Boston Breakers also merited a few nominations. Karen Carney, Carli Lloyd, Caroline Jonsson and Brittany Klein all received nods. Carney tallied a goal and an assist. Lloyd opened the scoring with a goal in the 21st minute. Jonsson collected her third shutout. Klein added a goal and two assists.
“You can argue that there are at least three Red Stars' players who deserve to be named Player of the Week, but I have to go with midfielder Karen Carney,” Goal.com’s Christa Mann said. “She at least contributed the key pass, through ball, shot or assist that led to every one of Chicago's best chances on goal.”
Goalkeepers Karina LeBlanc (Los Angeles) and Hope Solo (Saint Louis) also received nods. LeBlanc tallied a penalty kick save and her fourth clean sheet, while keeping the Sol undefeated. Solo stopped a penalty kick and earned her first shutout of the season.
“Alright, Solo’s team hasn't won, but saving a penalty kick to prevent the loss was still impressive,” Goal.com Editor Andrea Canales said. “It can't be easy to go from a team that hardly ever loses to one that can't manage a win. But Solo has been tough at the back and gives the team the expectation to turn things around.”
Goal.com
For more on Women’s Professional Soccer, go to Goal.com’s Women’s Soccer page.
Inside Goal.Com
-
RIGG: Anelka struggling against the current in Shanghai
Nicolas Anelka went against the grain when he moved to Shanghai. Now he's finding that coaching and gelling tactically is like swimming against the tide.
-
ROGERS: Bradley should command a bidding war among Serie A teams
Chievo is currently shopping the American midfielder and several Italian clubs have shown interest.
-
ISOLA: Neymar-led Brazil should be considered the 2014 WC favorite
Neymar was brilliant as Brazil easily handled the United States with early World Cup preparations officially underway.
-
LATHAM: Mexico using summer friendlies to build depth
With World Cup qualifying to begin in June, Mexico is using three U.S.-hosted friendlies to build squad depth.
-
McCARTHY: Harrisburg springs its wildest Open Cup upset to date
The City Islanders fought back from three goals down with nine minutes to play and won the game on penalty kicks in a stunning game on a wild night for the U.S. Open Cup.