|
(August 21, 2002)
Hot
News Main Page
Next>
WUSA Announces More
Award Winners
ATLANTA GA (August 21, 2002) - With
both the Washington Freedom and Carolina Courage scheduled to arrive in
Atlanta this afternoon for Founders Cup II at Herndon Stadium on
Saturday (televised live on PAX at 4:00 p.m. ET), the Women's United
Soccer Association today announced the recipients of the Offensive
Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Executive of the Year,
Team Fair Play Award and Team Community Service Award.
* Offensive Player of the Year -
Marinette Pichon - Philadelphia Charge
* Defensive Player of the Year - Danielle Slaton - Carolina Courage
* Executive of the Year - Joe Cummings - Boston Breakers
* Team Fair Play Award - Boston Breakers
* Team Community Service Award - Boston Breakers
Offensive Player if the Year -
Marinette Pichon - Philadelphia Charge
French national team standout Marinette Pichon of the Philadelphia
Charge captured the 2002 WUSA Offensive Player of the Year award.
Pichon, whose 14 goals ranked second in the WUSA, was a major reason for
the Philadelphia's success during the 2002 season as she scored nearly
40 percent of the Charge's goals.
After attacking midfielder Kelly Smith
went down with a season-ending knee injury on June 1, Philadelphia Head
Coach Mark Krikorian installed a 4-5-1 formation, utilizing Pichon as
the Charge's lone frontrunner. The move paid off as Pichon scored 11 of
her 14 goals after the formation change. The WUSA's June Player of the
Month, she had one of two hat tricks in the league this year and
recorded four multi-goal games, Pichon finished tied for fourth in
overall WUSA scoring with 14goals and one assist for 29 points. Pichon
ranked among the league's top five in shots (68 - 3rd in the WUSA),
shots in goal (36 - 3rd), points per game (1.61 - 4th) and offside
infractions (30 - 2nd). Pichon's sophisticated runs and clinical
finishing made her a marked player as opposing teams learned to alter
their defensive plans to try and stop the French star.
The Offensive Player of the Year
exemplifies outstanding, exciting and timely goal production or goal
creation. This player consistently demonstrates her attacking flair and
abilities as a model for attacking play league-wide. The player must
have a high point total, but the award is not restricted to the leading
scorer in the WUSA. WUSA coaches, general managers, players and members
of the media voted for the 2002 WUSA Offensive Player of the Year.
Defensive Player of the Year - Danielle
Slaton - Carolina Courage
The first overall pick in the 2002 WUSA Draft, Carolina Courage defender
Danielle Slaton was named the WUSA's 2002 Defensive Player of the Year.
Slaton saw action in 18 games during her first professional season,
scoring four goals while finishing fourth on the Courage in scoring.
The 2000 Olympic silver medallist won
an NCAAA championship with Santa Clara in 2001 and continued her winning
ways in the WUSA with Carolina. Slaton, who has 32 appearances with the
U.S. women's national team, anchored a Courage defense that allowed just
1.43 goal per game in 2002 after giving up a league-high 1.90 per match
in 2001. With veteran Carla Overbeck out for much of the season with a
knee injury, Slaton was called upon to provide leadership in the back
despite her youth. Slaton was a key reason Carolina had the WUSA's best
away record (6-2-3) in 2002 as the Courage allowed just 1.27 goals on
the road, the second lowest in the WUSA.
Prior to joining the Courage, Slaton
was a two-time All-American at Santa Clara and a finalist for the MAC
Player of the Year award and the Hermann Trophy in 2001. A native of San
Jose, she was the youngest member of the 2000 Olympic team and the only
squad member with college eligibility remaining.
The Defensive Player of the Year
exemplifies an outstanding ability to defend the top attacking players
in the WUSA. The player must play a position that is considered to have
key defensive responsibilities (midfield or defender). Goalkeepers are
not eligible. WUSA coaches, general managers, players and members of the
media voted for the 2002 WUSA Defensive Player of the Year.
Executive of the Year - Joe Cummings -
Boston Breakers
Boston Breakers General Manager Joe Cummings was the winner of the 2002
WUSA Executive of the Year award. Cummings oversaw a club that finished
second in league attendance and won the WUSA Team Community Service
award for its community and charitable involvement in New England. The
Executive of the Year award honors the general manager or team front
office member of management that exemplified their role with the WUSA.
This award takes into consideration the individual's leadership to
his/her team, their ability to develop and maintain a strong financial
model and their input and foresight in areas for potential future
successes of the WUSA. WUSA coaches, general managers, players and a
league office panel voted for the Executive of the Year.
Fair Play Award - Boston Breakers
Owners of the lowest amount of yellow cards and one of two teams that
did not receive a red card in 2002, the Boston Breakers won the 2002
WUSA Fair Play Award. The WUSA Fair Play Award goes to the team with the
fewest penalty points during the regular season.
Community Service Award - Boston
Breakers
The only WUSA team to go unbeaten at home this season, the Boston
Breakers captured the WUSA Team Community Service award in 2002. This
honor is presented to the organization that clearly stands out for its
dedication and activity within the club's local community. The Breakers
organization is involved with the Special Olympics, Girl Scouts,
Muscular Dystrophy Association, New England Aquarium, local children's
hospitals and many other charitable groups.
WUSA AWARDS ANNOUNCEMENT SCHEDULE
Wed., Aug. 21 - Offensive Player of the
Year, Defensive Player of the Year, All-WUSA First and Second team, Team
Community Service award, Team Fair Play award, Executive of the Year
Thur., Aug. 22 - Most Valuable Player
[Source: Dan Courtemanche, (678)
645-0757, www.WUSA.com, Paul Dodson - (678) 645-0764, WUSA
Communications]
|