USL News Release

Monday, July 30, 2007

TAMPA, FL – United Soccer Leagues announced the Goalkeeper of the Year honor and the W-League All-League Team Monday, honoring the top 11 players for the 2007 season based on votes from the league’s coaches and general managers. The finalists for the Coach, Defender and U19 Player of the Year honors as well as the Most Valuable Player award were also announced.

Nine teams were represented on the All-League Team with Jersey Sky Blue and Richmond Kickers Destiny each having two players on the list. Goalkeeper Melanie Wilson of the Atlanta Silverbacks and midfielder Lori Lindsay of the Washington Freedom are the lone two players representing clubs that reached the W-League Championship in Rochester, NY August 3-5.

2007 W-League All-League Team

Goalkeeper of the Year – Melanie Wilson (Atlanta Silverbacks)
Wilson captured the Goalkeeper of the Year honor as voted on by the league’s coaches and general managers in addition to winning the GAA Championship for the league’s lowest goals average of 0.250. The former WUSA Atlanta Beat goalkeeper gave up just two goals in eight games as her Silverbacks allowed just 10 on the season. She also finished tied for the league-lead in shutouts (seven) with Washington’s Kati Spisak and was tied for third in wins with seven.

Defender – Francesca DeCristoforo (Long Island Rough Riders)
Despite being a top defender in the league for many seasons, DeCristoforo earns her first All-Conference and All-League honors this year as she concludes a career that began in the W-League in 1996.

Defender – Lisa Gomez (San Diego Sunwaves)
The expansion Sunwaves made quite a splash in their first season by winning the regular season conference championship. Led by Gomez, the San Diego club led the Western Conference in the fewest goals allowed with 12. The Mexican international played in 11 games this season after helping guide Mexico to third place finish in CONCACAF qualifying for the Women’s World Cup in China.

Defender – Jaclyn Raveia (Richmond Kickers Destiny)
An All-Conference selection in 2004 with the Hampton Roads Piranhas, Raveia earned her first All-League honors by leading Richmond to the Central Conference playoffs for the second consecutive season. The seven-year W-League veteran and former WUSA defender played in nine games in her third season as a player-coach with the Kickers Destiny.

Midfielder – Formiga (Jersey Sky Blue)
The star Brazilian midfielder returns to the All-League Team for the second consecutive season. Formiga helped guide the expansion Sky Blue squad to a second place finish in the Northeast Division despite missing time to play for Brazil this summer in preparation for this fall’s Women’s World Cup in China. She earned her first All-League honor last season with the New Jersey Wildcats.

Midfielder – Lori Lindsay (Washington Freedom)
A former champion with the Freedom in the WUSA, Lindsay was a critical element in Washington’s campaign to capture the Northeast Division title and ultimately reach the W-League Championship tournament. The former US youth and senior international played in all 14 games for the Freedom, tallying five goals and finishing with eight assists, which was tied for second in the league.

Midfielder – Tina Murphy (Charlotte Lady Eagles)
The eight-year W-League veteran is no stranger to recognition having previously received All-Conference honors in 2004 and 2006, but garnered her first All-League honor this season despite Charlotte missing the playoffs for the first time in its history. In her seventh season with the club this year, she played in all 12 games, registering three goals and an assist.

Midfielder – Kelly Parker (Ottawa Fury)
With six Canadian internationals away at national team residency, the 2004 W-League MVP took on the leadership role with the four-time league semifinalists and helped guide the club to its first unbeaten season and regular season W-League championship with an 11-0-1 record. The former Canadian international played in all 12 games, registering nine goals and four assists, finishing ninth in points and goals in the league.

Forward – Lara Dickenmann (Jersey Sky Blue)
After playing in the shadow of Brazilian star and current Sky Blue teammate Formiga last year, the Swiss international had a superb 2007 season that saw her dominate the league in nearly every statistical category to sweep the W-League offensive honors for the year. Dickenmann finished the season with a league-leading nine assists, 18 goals and 45 points to win the Assist Leader, Goal Scoring and Scoring Championship honors respectively. Dickenmann was an All-Conference selection last season.

Forward – Tiffeny Milbrett (Vancouver Whitecaps)
After returning to North America from a stint in Sweden, all the former US international did was dominate in the Western Conference. In her 10 games with the Whitecaps she tallied 11 goals and six assists, finishing third in points (28), third in goals and fifth in assists. She was an All-Conference selection last season.

Forward – Jen Parsons (Richmond Kickers Destiny)
An All-Conference selection last year, Parsons helped guide the Kickers Destiny back to the playoffs for a second straight season. The fourth-year W-League striker registered 11 goals and three assists in 11 games over her third campaign with Richmond, ranking fifth in points and third in goals in the W-League.

W-League 2007 Season Award Finalists

Defender of the Year
Francesca DeCristoforo (Long Island Rough Riders)
Lisa Gomez (San Diego Sunwaves)
Jaclyn Raveia (Richmond Kickers Destiny)

U19 Player of the Year
Ann Gleason (Minnesota Lightning)
Lexi Marton (Toronto Lady Lynx)
Adrienne Ruhe Lischke (Toronto Lady Lynx)

Coach of the Year
Elio Bello (San Diego Sunwaves)
Jim Gabarra (Washington Freedom)
Danny Storlien (Minnesota Lightning)

Most Valuable Player
Lara Dickenmann (Jersey Sky Blue)
Kelly Parker (Ottawa Fury)
Jen Parsons (Richmond Kickers Destiny)

The recipients of the Defender of the Year and U19 Player of the Year awards will be announced Wednesday, August 1 and the Coach of the Year will be unveiled Thursday, August 2. The Most Valuable Player honor will be announced at the W-League Championship banquet Saturday, August 4.

2007 W-League Championship

The W-League Championship tournament in Rochester, NY at PAETEC Park is August 3 and 5, featuring the Atlanta Silverbacks facing the Seattle Sounders in the first semifinal Friday night followed by the host Rochester Rhinos taking on the Washington Freedom. Both games will be available on USL Live. The consolation and championship games are Sunday. The W-League Championship match will be broadcast on Fox Soccer Channel at 5:30 pm ET.