W-League News Release
Thursday, June 28, 2012
TAMPA, Fla. – The W-League announced its Team of the Week for Week 7 of the 2012 season today, honoring Ottawa Fury midfielder Lisa-Marie Woods as Player of the Week after she led her squad to the top of the Central Conference standings with four goals in a trio of wins. Most importantly, Woods scored both goals in Ottawa’s 2-1 comeback win against the Laval Comets on June 20 that allowed the Fury to take control of the conference.
A pair of Pali Blues anchor the defense, as goalkeeper Anna Picarelli and defender Christie Shaner led the Western Conference leaders to a trio of shutouts at Seattle, Victoria and Vancouver. Also leading their teams from the backline were Hamilton’s Hailie Price, who scored twice and drew a penalty kick in a 3-3 tie against Quebec City, and Molly Menchel, who tallied a goal and an assist in D.C. United’s win vs. Fredericksburg. Vancouver’s Danielle Johnson rounds out the defense after she shut down the potent Pali offense in a scoreless tie.
FC Jax midfielder Jennifer O’Connor recorded a hat-trick to lead her team to its first franchise win, while New Jersey Wildcats midfielder Yael Averbuch scored a pair of goals in a crucial 2-1 win vs. the Long Island Rough Riders.
Santa Clarita and Portugal Women’s National Team star Edite Fernandes leads the forward trio after her hat-trick for the Blue Heat against Victoria, while Seattle Sounders Women and U.S. WNT standout Sydney Leroux recorded two goals against Fernandes’ squad to earn her spot. Rounding out the squad is Atlanta’s Elizabeth Guess, who scored the game-winner in a vital 1-0 win against Charlotte to put the Silverbacks in the driver’s seat in the Southeast Division.
W-League Team of the Week
| Pos | Player | Team | Highlights |
| GK | Anna Picarelli | Pali | Shut out Vancouver and Seattle, played 79 mins in 3rd shutout win |
| D | Christie Shaner | Pali | Led D that held high-powered Seattle to 5 shots in 2-0 win |
| D | Hailie Price | Hamilton | Scored twice and drew a PK in 3-3 tie vs. Quebec City |
| D | Molly Menchel | DC United | Goal, assist and great defensive game in 5-0 win vs. FASA |
| D | Danielle Johnson | Vancouver | Shut down high-scoring Pali offense in scoreless tie |
| M | Lisa-Marie Woods | Ottawa | Scored both in 2-1 comeback win vs. Laval; added 2g vs. London |
| M | Jennifer O’Connor | FC Jax | Hat-trick to lead FC Jax to 1st franchise win |
| M | Yael Averbuch | NJ Wildcats | Scored both goals, 6 SOG in important 2-1 win vs. Long Island |
| F | Elizabeth Guess | Atlanta | GWG, game-high 5 shots in huge 1-0 win vs. Charlotte |
| F | Sydney Leroux | Seattle | 2 goals, 7 SOG in 4-0 win vs. Santa Clarita |
| F | Edite Fernandes | Santa Clarita | Recorded a hat-trick in 4-2 win vs. Victoria |
Honorable Mention: Atlanta - Ronda Brooks; Central SC - Claire Joyce; Colorado Rush - Kendall Johnson, Megan McCain; Dayton - Emilie Fillion; DC United - Lianne Sanderson, Ashley Herndon; Hamilton - Angelika Uremovich; Laval - Nkemjika Ezurike Nathalie; London - Melissa Bigg; Long Island - Brooke DeRosa; NJ Rangers - Gabrielle Galanti; North Jersey - Nickolette Driesse; NY Magic - Yuiko Inoue; Ottawa - Ashley Seal; Pali - Michelle Pao; Seattle - Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan; Virginia Beach - Jamie Clarke, Taylor Mertz;