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Goal.com's WPS Player of Week 12: Saint Louis Athletica's Eniola Aluko
Saint Louis Athletica forward Eniola Aluko tallied the lone goal in WPS play this weekend. It was an important goal as it moved Saint Louis into second place.
Jun 15, 2009 10:34:28 PM
There was one goal scored this weekend in Women’s Professional Soccer. For that accomplishment, Saint Louis Athletica’s Eniola Aluko has been named Goal.com’s WPS Player of Week 12.
After two 0-0 draws on Saturday. Aluko single-handedly saw to it that Athletica would change the scoreless pattern of the weekend. In the 44th minute St. Louis defender Kendell Fletcher carried the ball uncontested, sending it soaring over the Breakers’ defense. Aluko won the foot race, and then placed it hard and low past Boston goalkeeper Kristin Luckenbill. The Breakers’ keeper went down and tried to get a hand on it, but the ball was out of reach.
The goal gave Athletica (4-3-2, 14 points) a huge boost. The club held on for the 1-0 win and moved into second place in the standings.
“This week's standout was unquestionably St. Louis Athletica forward Eniola Aluko, who proved for 90-plus minutes who the fastest, strongest, and hungriest Englishwoman was on the field Sunday night. She shined time and time again,” Goal.com contributor Angela Tavares said.
English international Aluko burst onto the scene at the ripe old age of 17. She debuted with the English National Team in 2004 and has been a regular ever since. She’s appeared 26 times for England with four goals. The 22-year-old began her professional career in 2001. Since then Aluko has played for the Birmingham Ladies, Charlton Athletic and Chelsea L.F.C.
Saint Louis Athletica acquired Aluko in the WPS International Player Draft. She’s played in nine games for Athletica, recording eight starts, three goals and one assist. Aluko ranks first on her team in scoring and fifth overall in WPS. At 5’4” she can sneak around the defense. And when she does, Aluko can find the net. She’s young and she’s talented. She’s the future of WPS.
Defense and goalkeeping were definitely key in this weekend’s matches. Five of six goalkeepers posted shutouts. The only one who didn’t, only allowed one goal. It was a weekend where the goalkeepers stood strong. The Chicago Red Stars Caroline Jonsson led the pack this weekend with eight saves. Jonsson has 46 overall saves. However Los Angeles Sol goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc made three saves for the evening. LeBlanc also earned her eighth shutout, tops in WPS.
“The goalkeeping was outstanding this weekend. There’s no question,” Goal.com Women’s Soccer Editor Kathryn L. Knapp said. “But Eniola Aluko is a special player. Her goal on Sunday may be the biggest one scored yet. Without it, Saint Louis would be stuck in the pack. And the game may have ended in a third straight scoreless draw for the weekend.”
Goal.com
For more on Women's Professional Soccer, go to Goal.com's women's soccer page.
After two 0-0 draws on Saturday. Aluko single-handedly saw to it that Athletica would change the scoreless pattern of the weekend. In the 44th minute St. Louis defender Kendell Fletcher carried the ball uncontested, sending it soaring over the Breakers’ defense. Aluko won the foot race, and then placed it hard and low past Boston goalkeeper Kristin Luckenbill. The Breakers’ keeper went down and tried to get a hand on it, but the ball was out of reach.
The goal gave Athletica (4-3-2, 14 points) a huge boost. The club held on for the 1-0 win and moved into second place in the standings.
“This week's standout was unquestionably St. Louis Athletica forward Eniola Aluko, who proved for 90-plus minutes who the fastest, strongest, and hungriest Englishwoman was on the field Sunday night. She shined time and time again,” Goal.com contributor Angela Tavares said.
English international Aluko burst onto the scene at the ripe old age of 17. She debuted with the English National Team in 2004 and has been a regular ever since. She’s appeared 26 times for England with four goals. The 22-year-old began her professional career in 2001. Since then Aluko has played for the Birmingham Ladies, Charlton Athletic and Chelsea L.F.C.
Saint Louis Athletica acquired Aluko in the WPS International Player Draft. She’s played in nine games for Athletica, recording eight starts, three goals and one assist. Aluko ranks first on her team in scoring and fifth overall in WPS. At 5’4” she can sneak around the defense. And when she does, Aluko can find the net. She’s young and she’s talented. She’s the future of WPS.
Defense and goalkeeping were definitely key in this weekend’s matches. Five of six goalkeepers posted shutouts. The only one who didn’t, only allowed one goal. It was a weekend where the goalkeepers stood strong. The Chicago Red Stars Caroline Jonsson led the pack this weekend with eight saves. Jonsson has 46 overall saves. However Los Angeles Sol goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc made three saves for the evening. LeBlanc also earned her eighth shutout, tops in WPS.
“The goalkeeping was outstanding this weekend. There’s no question,” Goal.com Women’s Soccer Editor Kathryn L. Knapp said. “But Eniola Aluko is a special player. Her goal on Sunday may be the biggest one scored yet. Without it, Saint Louis would be stuck in the pack. And the game may have ended in a third straight scoreless draw for the weekend.”
Goal.com
For more on Women's Professional Soccer, go to Goal.com's women's soccer page.
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