USL News Release

 

Wednesday, August 2, 2006

 

TAMPA, FL – United Soccer Leagues announced Wednesday the All-League and All-Conference Teams for the W-League 2006 season as voted on by the league’s coaches and general managers.

Ten different clubs had a representative on the W-League All-League Team with the 14-0-0 regular season champion New Jersey Wildcats as the lone team with two players honored. Each of the four W-League Championship-bound clubs had a player named to the All-League Team (pictured clockwise from upper left: Matheson, French, Swinehart, Sinclair)

The W-League Championship is this coming weekend in Vancouver, British Columbia. The semifinals featuring Charlotte versus Ottawa and conference rivals Seattle versus Vancouver will be Friday, August 4. The games will be live on Fox Soccer Channel at 8:00 and 10:30 pm ET. The Championship game will be Sunday, August 6 and will be broadcast at 11:30 pm ET after the FC Barcelona friendly against Chivas de Guadalajara friendly.

Toronto Lady Lynx netminder Justine Bernier won the Goalkeeper of the Year honor with the league’s lowest goals against average at 0.25 for the campaign. The 17-year old second-year player registered seven shutouts in eight games played, giving up just two goals with a record of 5-1-2. She did not allow a goal in her only 45 minutes of action the previous season.

The only player on the All-League Team representing a club that did not make the playoffs, Gaston led a defensive effort that any team would be proud of with just 17 goals allowed over the course of the season. She played in all 14 matches, missing only two minutes of action for the year and also contributing two goals and an assist to the offensive effort.

The expansion Minnesota Lightning reached the playoffs in their first season with a defense led by the recent US U21 international. She played in 12 matches for the club and was also the team’s fourth leading scorer with five goals and two assists on the year.

McNamara led a defense that allowed only two goals in the run of play over the course of the season, with the third coming via a penalty. The former WUSA player played in all 14 games and contributed offensively with a goal and six assists, which ranked tied for second on the club.

The former US international and WUSA player anchored the midfield for the Sounders Saints in 11 of 12 games this season, helping guide the club to the postseason for the fourth time in six years after missing last year. The former W-League assist leader in 2004 a goal and two assists in the campaign .

The Brazilian international that has been to three World Cups was a force from the midfield and forward positions over the course of the season for the defending champions, registering a team-leading 13 goals and two assists in 12 games. She ranked seventh in the league in points and fifth in goals.

The Canadian international helped lead Ottawa to a 10-1-1 season with a goal and three assists over the course of seven games. In her fourth season in the league, it is her first All-League selection.

In her fifth year in the league, Swinehart helped lead the Lady Eagles to yet another playoff appearance by capturing the division title. She played in all 14 matches, missing only 19 minutes of action while scoring five goals and three assists. She joined the team in 2002 after it had won the W-2 championship and is looking to join her brother Dustin, who has two USL Second Division titles to his credit, as a league champion.

Western Mass Pioneers forward Kelly Shimmin took the top honors finishing as the Scoring Champion and Goal Scoring Champion this season with 41 points on 17 goals and seven assists. Her assist total also ranked sixth in the league.

The Canadian international returned to the team after a three-year absence to tie for the team and conference lead in scoring with former US international Tiffeny Milbrett with nine goals and four assists, playing in eight games to Milbrett’s 11. Since making her international debut at 16, Sinclair has over 75 caps and 55 goals for Canada.

In her second season, the Hawks striker finished tied for second in the league in goals with 15, three times as many as last season, and was third in points with 33. She helped lead the team to the regular season conference title with a 10-2-2 record, playing in all 14 matches.

The All-Conference Teams are listed below. The award winners for Defender of the Year, Coach of the Year, U19 Player of the Year and Most Valuable Player will be announced Thursday.

  
G - Erin Switalski - Cocoa Expos
D - Leslie Gaston - Atlanta Silverbacks
D - Holly Gault - Minnesota Lightning
D - Claire Sykes - Cocoa Expos
M - Jen Buczkowski - Chicago Gaels
M - Tina Murphy - Charlotte Lady Eagles
M - Ashley Swinehart - Charlotte Lady Eagles
M - Sandra Anger - Richmond Kickers Destiny
F - Jennifer Parsons - Richmond Kickers Destiny
F - Kristi Swaving - Michigan Hawks
F - Darcel Mollon - Charlotte Lady Eagles

  
G - Justine Bernier - Toronto Lady Lynx
D - Beth McNamara - New Jersey Wildcats
D - Robyn Gayle - Ottawa Fury
D - Margaret Tietjen - Western Mass Lady Pioneers
M - Lara Dickenmann - New Jersey Wildcats
M - Diana Matheson - Ottawa Fury
M - Angela Hucles - Boston Renegades
M - Formiga - New Jersey Wildcats
F - Kelly Shimmin - Western Mass Lady Pioneers
F - Katie Schoepfer - Western Mass Lady Pioneers
F - Lisa Stoia - Boston Renegades
  

  
G - Erin McLeod - Vancouver Whitecaps
D - Katie Miyake - San Diego Gauchos
D - Raydan Phillips - Mile High Edge
D - Katherine Reynolds - Seattle Sounders Saints
M - Andrea Neil - Vancouver Whitecaps
M - Michelle French - Seattle Sounders Saints
M - Malia Arrant - Seattle Sounders Saints
M - Katie Antongiovanni - Mile High Edge
F - Christine Sinclair - Vancouver Whitecaps
F - Tiffeny Milbrett - Vancouver Whitecaps
F - Ymara Guante - Mile High Edge