W-League News Release
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
TAMPA, Fla. – The W-League announced its Team of the Week for Week 7 of the 2013 season today, honoring Pali Blues midfielder Mele French as Player of the Week after she scored twice in a 3-0 win against the Seattle Sounders Women. The win moved the Blues within a point of the Western Conference-leading Sounders with a game in hand.
French, a University of Oregon grad, opened the scoring for the Blues in the 15th minute against the Sounders, picking up a pass by Samantha Mewes and volleying home a finish off the right post. French then doubled Pali’s lead 11 minutes later as a cross by Sarah Killion found French on the left side of the penalty area, where she was able to create enough space for a curling shot into the top-right corner of the net.
French is joined in the Team of the Week midfield by Fredericksburg’s Shaniece Thorpe, who helped create a pair of goals in the Impact’s 3-2 win against Long Island, and London’s Jessica Bujouves, who recorded a pair of assists in her side’s 2-2 draw with Toronto.
VSI Tampa Bay FC’s Tori Abnathy is honored for scoring both goals in her side’s 2-1 win against Charlotte, and fellow two-goal scorer Jessica Fucello was also named to the Team of the Week’s forward line as she led the New Jersey Wildcats past the New York Magic – F.A. Euro. Virginia Beach’s Shan Jones completes the attacking trio after recording a goal and an assist as the Piranhas defeated Long Island.
French’s Pali teammate Anna Picarelli is named to the goalkeeper’s berth as she had a seven-save shutout in the Blues’ victory against Seattle, while a quartet of defenders is led by North Jersey’s Arielle Aikens after she helped the Valkyries earn a point in a 0-0 draw with the Washington Spirit Reserves. Washington’s Jennifer Skogerboe also earns selection after the Spirit Reserves recorded a pair of shutouts during the week, while London’s Krista Lee and Laval’s Marie-Pier Gougeon also earned selection, with Gougeon having recorded a pair of assists in the Comets’ victory against Quebec City.
W-League Team of the Week
| Pos | Player | Team | Highlights |
| GK | Anna Picarelli | Pali | Made 7 saves in 3-0 shutout of Seattle |
| D | Krista Lee | London | Helped London shut out Laval |
| D | Jennifer Skogerboe | Washington | Scored a goal, helped shut out both LI and North Jersey |
| D | Arielle Aikens | North Jersey | Led D that shut out high-scoring Spirit Reserves |
| D | Marie-Pier Gougeon | Laval | Pair of assists, helped lead defense to shutout vs. QC |
| M | Jessica Bujouves | London | Assisted on both goals, excellent D in 2-2 tie with Toronto |
| M | Mele French | Pali | Scored twice in huge 3-0 win vs. Sounders |
| M | Shaniece Thorpe | Fredericksburg | Helped create two goals in 3-2 win vs. Long Island |
| F | Tori Abnathy | VSI Tampa Bay | Scored both goals in 2-1 comeback win at Charlotte |
| F | Jessica Fucello | New Jersey | Scored twice in 3-1 win vs. NY |
| F | Shan Jones | Virginia Beach | Goal, assist as Piranhas r |
Honorable Mention – Laval - Catherine Charron-Delage; London - Miranda Horn; Long Island - Grace Hawkins; Los Angeles - Melissa Fernandez; New Jersey - Rachael Ivanicki, Carlie Till; North Jersey - Leanne Champ, Alicia Tirelli, Julie Vajda; Ottawa - Amanda Fancher; Santa Clarita - Diane Hare; Seattle - Erin McNulty; Toronto - Furtuna Velaj.