W-League News Release
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
TAMPA, Fla. – The W-League today announced the finalists for its 2012 regular season honors. The awards for Most Valuable Player, Rookie of the Year, Defender of the Year, Goalkeeper of the Year and Coach of the Year will be presented at Saturday’s Media & Awards Banquet at the 2012 W-League Championship presented by Umbro in Ottawa, Ontario.
A total of nine W-League teams are represented among the finalists, with the Pali Blues leading the way with six nominations. Pali goalkeeper Anna Maria Picarelli, named to the All-League Team Tuesday, is a nominee for both MVP and Goalkeeper of the Year. Ten of the nominees will participate in the 2012 W-League Championship final four Friday and Sunday in Ottawa.
The host Ottawa Fury boast a pair of award finalists – Katrina-Lee Gorry for Rookie of the Year and Jasmine Phillips for Goalkeeper of the Year. The Seattle Sounders Women, North Jersey Valkyries and Charlotte Lady Eagles also have a pair of finalists each.
Votes for W-League honors are submitted by W-League team management and finalists are determined by All-Conference voting.
2012 W-League Award Finalists
MVP
Grace Hawkins, Long Island Rough Riders
Veronica Perez, Seattle Sounders Women
Anna Maria Picarelli, Pali Blues
Rookie of the Year
Katherine Courter, North Jersey Valkyries
Katrina-Lee Gorry, Ottawa Fury
Michelle Pao, Pali Blues
Lynn Williams, Pali Blues
Defender of the Year
Sasha Andrews, Pali Blues
Stephanie Cox, Seattle Sounders Women
Cindy Walsh, Laval Comets
Goalkeeper of the Year
Robyn Jones, Charlotte Lady Eagles
Jasmine Phillips, Ottawa Fury
Anna Maria Picarelli, Pali Blues
Coach of the Year
Samir Ghrib, Quebec City Amiral
Lee Horton, Charlotte Lady Eagles
Mike Jorden, D.C. United Women
Charlie Naimo, Pali Blues
Mark White, North Jersey Valkyries