Williams Named Player of the Week

W-League News Release

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

TAMPA, Fla. – The W-League announced its Team of the Week for Week 9 of the 2012 season today, honoring Pali Blues forward Lynn Williams as Player of the Week after she scored four goals in two games to lead her side to a pair of victories, maintaining their undefeated record this season.

Williams, who currently sits third in the W-League with 23 points, had a hat trick in the Blues’ 5-0 win against the Colorado Rapids on Friday night. All three of Williams’ goals came in the second half, the first in the 48th minute on a floated effort from the right that found the opposite corner. She then put home a corner by Sarah Huffman on the hour-mark before completing her hat trick in stoppage time when she fired home after making a diagonal run into the penalty area.

The Pepperdine standout then had the game-winning goal in Sunday’s 2-0 victory against the Colorado Rush, giving her 10 goals this season. The West Coast Conference’s Freshman of the Year in 2011, Williams leads the Blues in both goals and points, helping the side to a 12-0-1 record with one game remaining in the regular season.

Joining Williams on the Team of the Week was her Pali teammate Sasha Andrews, who led the Blues’ defense to a pair of shutouts in their wins against the Rapids and Rush. Andrews was joined in the defensive trio by U.S. International Becky Sauerbrunn, who scored the game-winning goal as D.C. United clinched the Eastern Conference regular season championship, and VSI Tampa’s Markysha Boyce, who helped the Flames contain a strong Atlanta Silverbacks attack in a 1-1 draw on Saturday night.

Atlanta’s Rebecca Nolin led the Silverbacks to victory on Sunday, earning her spot on the Team of the Week after a pair of goals earned a win against the FC Jax Destroyers, and she was matched by her fellow midfield selections, each of whom had a pair of goals.

Virginia Beach’s Taylor Mertz and North Jersey’s Nicolette Driesse each played key roles in keeping their side’s playoff hopes alive, with Mertz scoring both goals as the Piranhas rallied in the final 15 minutes to take a 2-1 win against the Northern Virginia Majestics. Driesse, meanwhile, scored twice and added an assist in the Valkyries win against the New Jersey Rangers. Rounding out the midfielder was Mexican international Veronica Perez, whose two goals and two assists led the Seattle Sounders Women to a win against Victoria.

Joining Williams in attack are Quebec’s Lea Chastenay-Joseph, who had three goals in two victories for the Amiral, and Long Island’s Grace Hawkins, who extended her lead at the top of the scoring charts with four goals against the New York Magic. Hawkins now has 16 goals and 36 points this season for the Rough Riders as they continue their pursuit of a place in the playoffs.

W-League Team of the Week

Honorable Mention – D.C. United: Ashley Herndon; North Jersey: Stefani Scholz; Ottawa: Mallory Outerbridge, Lisa Marie Woods; Pali: Sarah Huffman; Seattle: Lyndsey Patterson; Toronto: Kinley McNicholl.