Boston Breakers Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher Named 2014 NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year
August 25, 2014 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) News Release
CHICAGO (August 25, 2014) - Boston Breakers goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher was named the NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year for the 2014 season.
Seattle Reign FC goalkeeper Hope Solo was second while the Washington Spirit's Ashlyn Harris finished third in the voting.
The Boston goalkeeper also beat out other notable competitors - including FC Kansas City's Nicole Barnhart, who was the NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year in 2013.
Naeher, 26, started all 24 games for the Breakers this season and led the league in goalkeeper minutes with 2,115. Her 106 saves were also an NWSL best and 30 more than her closest competitor, Chicago Red Stars net minder Karina LeBlanc.
The Stratford, Conn. native had three shutouts during the season - including a 10-save clean sheet in a 2-0 victory August 10 against defending champions Portland Thorns FC that earned her NWSL Player of the Week honors for Week 18 of the 2014 season.
The Penn State product finished the campaign with two consecutive shutouts at home to help Boston climb out the NWSL basement and into seventh in the standings.
She was most recently called into the U.S. Women's National Team for the squad's August 20 friendly against Switzerland, but was an unused substitute. She has yet to make her debut with the senior national team.
Naeher joins forward Lianne Sanderson, who was voted to the 2013 NWSL Second XI, and former teammate Sydney Leroux, who earned a spot on the 2013 NWSL Best XI, as the only Breakers players to be honored with a season-end award.
The NWSL awards are voted on by a selection of journalists that cover the league on a consistent basis, team officials and NWSL players.
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