W-League News Release
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
TAMPA, Fla. – The W-League announced its Team of the Week for Week 8 of the 2014 season today, naming Washington Spirit Reserves forward Katie Yensen as Player of the Week. The Virginia Tech standout had three goals in three victories as the Spirit Reserves claimed the Northeastern Conference championship and continued their undefeated season.
Yensen came off the bench to record an assist in the Spirit Reserves’ 3-0 win against the Braddock Road Stars Elite last Wednesday night, and then tallied the game-winning goal as the side clinched the Northeastern crown with a 3-0 win against the Long Island Rough Riders on Friday. Yensen capped her week with two goals in a 5-1 victory against the New Jersey Wildcats on Sunday, which gave her a team-leading six for the season.
Yensen was joined on the Team of the Week by teammate Sam Lofton, who had a goal and assist in the Spirit Reserves’ three victories and earned plaudits for her solid defensive play. The Colorado Pride also earned two selections as goalkeeper Britt Eckerstrom recorded a seven-save shutout and forward Mallory Weber had both goals in a crucial 2-0 victory against the Bay Area Breeze last Thursday.
The Ottawa Fury led all teams with three selections as they took control of the Central Conference with three consecutive victories. Forward Arin Gilliland earned selection after her hat trick led the Fury to victory against London, while midfielder Lisa-Marie Woods had the game-winning goal in a crucial victory against Laval and Shelina Zadorsky was strong throughout the week as the Fury conceded just once in the three contests.
The LA Blues’ Mele French leads the other selections as she continued her scoring streak in a victory against the Santa Clarita Blue Heat. French is currently in a five-way tie for the league lead with seven goals as the Blues remain perfect this season. Braddock Road’s Marisa Park earned selection after her goal and assist helped the Stars Elite defeat Long Island, while North Jersey’s Jen Andresen and New York’s Lorina White both had standout performances as their teams played to a draw on Saturday night.
A total of 21 games are scheduled for the penultimate week of the W-League season as the battle for the playoffs continues. The Seattle Sounders Women face a pair of key games in their pursuit of a berth in the Western Conference Championship as they host the LA Blues on Thursday night and Bay Area Breeze on Sunday. The Ottawa Fury could clinch the Central Conference with a victory on Saturday afternoon as they host the Laval Comets, while in the Southeastern Conference the Gulf Coast Texans visit the Charlotte Eagles in a key showdown in the race for first place.
Select W-League games can be seen live on YouTube, with live updates also available via Twitter (@USLWLEAGUE) and Facebook. Stay up to date with news, previews and match reports from throughout the league via WLEAGUEsoccer.com.
W-League Team of the Week
Honorable Mention – Carolina Elite – India Trotter; Charlotte – Robyn Jones; Colo. Pride – Jessica Ayers; Colo. Rush – Danica Evans; Colo. Storm – Kate Scheele; Gulf Coast – Dernelle Mascall; K-W United – Claudia Piazza, Leticia Skeete; LA – Katie Stengel; Ottawa – Kristy Moore; Santa Clarita – Kristina Sikora; Toronto – Melanie Pickert; Washington – Kelsey Pardue, Ashley Herndon.