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Goal.com's WPS Player Of Week 7: St. Louis Athletica's Lori Chalupny
After nine shots including four on goal in St. Louis' first four matches of Women's Professional Soccer, Lori Chalupny found the net and gave Athletica its first win.
May 12, 2009 12:02:19 AM
In week seven of Women’s Professional Soccer, the scoring slowed down a bit. But the lone two teams to tally goals went on to earn their first wins. Lori Chalupny has been the heart and soul of Saint Louis Athletica since the season began. Her goal on Saturday led Athletica to its first win – 1-0 over FC Gold Pride. For that and more she has been named Goal.com’s Player of Week 7.
“Chalupny is one of the hardest working players in the league and is a class act on the field,” Goal.com’s Allen Ramsey said. “Fittingly, she scored the game winner St. Louis Athletica's first victory of the season and put in a nice day's work in the midfield to help hold a clean sheet.”
Chalupny is no stranger to leading a team. As co-captain of this year’s U.S. Women’s National Team she’s spoken her mind a few times. But most of Chalupny’s words need no voice, as she leaves it all on the field every game. Chalupny has made 89 appearances for the U.S. with eight goals. Saint Louis knew exactly the quality of player they were adding to their squad.
Since joining Athletica, Chalupny has been constantly pressuring opposing teams. She just had a bit of trouble finishing her shots. In the first four games of the season Chalupny recorded nine shots, with four on goal. In Saturday’s match she had four, all of them on goal. And finally, she found the net. Chalupny tallied an unassisted 16th minute corner kick, which perfectly bent into the net and gave her club its first win.
“The player of the week is unquestionably Lori Chalupny, who brought Athletica its first win—and one well deserved—after an emotional week of major injuries and suspensions,” Goal.com’s Angela Tavares said. “Hopefully St. Louis will cling onto this momentum and start making the kind of impact a lineup as strong as theirs should have on this league.”
Chalupny wasn’t the only member of Athletica to receive POW nods. Goalkeeper Hope Solo was also recognized for her five saves and second clean sheet.
“Athletica was is desperate need of a win coming into the game, and after Lori Chalupny gave them an early lead, it was vital to hold on to,” Goal.com’s Jennifer Dawson said. “Chalupny deserves a lot of credit for her goal, especially considering she scored directly from a corner kick, but Solo had to withstand attacking pressure for the duration of the match.”
Solo is third in the league with two clean sheets on the season. The U.S. goalkeeper has made 23 saves in five contests to date. Solo has been called into U.S. camp following this next week’s games, along with teammate Chalupny. She’s earned 82 caps with the U.S. women with 43 shutouts. Solo is undeniably one of the top keepers in WPS.
“Hope Solo had the best performance in WPS this week,” Goal.com’s Zac Rigg said. “Four goalies kept clean sheets, but she saved the most shots, five, to do it. Her performance was crucial to her side's slender 1-0 win and the three points.”
Goal.com
For more on Women's Professional Soccer, go to Goal.com's Women's Soccer page.
“Chalupny is one of the hardest working players in the league and is a class act on the field,” Goal.com’s Allen Ramsey said. “Fittingly, she scored the game winner St. Louis Athletica's first victory of the season and put in a nice day's work in the midfield to help hold a clean sheet.”
Chalupny is no stranger to leading a team. As co-captain of this year’s U.S. Women’s National Team she’s spoken her mind a few times. But most of Chalupny’s words need no voice, as she leaves it all on the field every game. Chalupny has made 89 appearances for the U.S. with eight goals. Saint Louis knew exactly the quality of player they were adding to their squad.
Since joining Athletica, Chalupny has been constantly pressuring opposing teams. She just had a bit of trouble finishing her shots. In the first four games of the season Chalupny recorded nine shots, with four on goal. In Saturday’s match she had four, all of them on goal. And finally, she found the net. Chalupny tallied an unassisted 16th minute corner kick, which perfectly bent into the net and gave her club its first win.
“The player of the week is unquestionably Lori Chalupny, who brought Athletica its first win—and one well deserved—after an emotional week of major injuries and suspensions,” Goal.com’s Angela Tavares said. “Hopefully St. Louis will cling onto this momentum and start making the kind of impact a lineup as strong as theirs should have on this league.”
Chalupny wasn’t the only member of Athletica to receive POW nods. Goalkeeper Hope Solo was also recognized for her five saves and second clean sheet.
“Athletica was is desperate need of a win coming into the game, and after Lori Chalupny gave them an early lead, it was vital to hold on to,” Goal.com’s Jennifer Dawson said. “Chalupny deserves a lot of credit for her goal, especially considering she scored directly from a corner kick, but Solo had to withstand attacking pressure for the duration of the match.”
Solo is third in the league with two clean sheets on the season. The U.S. goalkeeper has made 23 saves in five contests to date. Solo has been called into U.S. camp following this next week’s games, along with teammate Chalupny. She’s earned 82 caps with the U.S. women with 43 shutouts. Solo is undeniably one of the top keepers in WPS.
“Hope Solo had the best performance in WPS this week,” Goal.com’s Zac Rigg said. “Four goalies kept clean sheets, but she saved the most shots, five, to do it. Her performance was crucial to her side's slender 1-0 win and the three points.”
Goal.com
For more on Women's Professional Soccer, go to Goal.com's Women's Soccer page.
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