Boston's Meinert Named MVP
August 21, 2003 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) News Release
SAN DIEGO, CA (Thursday, August 21, 2003) - The Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) today announced that Boston Breakers forward Maren Meinert has been named the league's Most Valuable Player for the 2003 season. Meinert edged out Washington Freedom forward Abby Wambach for the award. Mia Hamm, Wambach's Freedom teammate, finished third in the voting. A former German national team star, Meinert becomes the second consecutive international MVP following Philadelphia Charge standout Marinette Pichon of France in 2002.
Meinert accomplished the individual version of "the double" in 2003 by winning the Hyundai All-Star Game Most Valuable Player award and the league's Most Valuable Player honor for her regular season performance. The 5-foot-6 native of Duisberg, Germany finished sixth in WUSA scoring with nine goals and 10 assists for 28 points in 2003. Her leadership and offensive contributions were key reasons why the Breakers captured the 2003 WUSA regular season championship.
The withdrawn forward ranked among the WUSA's top six players in points, assists, total shots, shots on goal, game-winning assists, multi-goal games and shots on goal percentage in 2003. She also scored two goals and added an assist as the World Stars beat the American Stars in the 2003 Hyundai WUSA All-Star Game. More importantly, Meinert made the Breakers a better team with her presence on the field as Boston went from sixth place in 2002 to first place in 2003.
The 30-year-old Meinert, who is retiring after the WUSA season to return to Germany and spend more time with her husband, originally expected to play just one season in the WUSA. However, her passion to make the playoffs and her love of the game stretched a one-year stay into three seasons. Meinert will leave the United States tied for the WUSA's all-time scoring lead (81 pts.) with Atlanta's Charmaine Hooper.
Meinert, who was named All-WUSA First Team yesterday, is currently not scheduled to play for Germany at the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup. Although the German soccer federation discussed with Meinert the possibility of returning to the national team, she said she wanted to stand by her decision to retire from international play after helping Germany capture the 2001 European Championship. She will be cheering on her former teammates as they look to win their first world championship in September - October.
The Most Valuable Player is awarded to the player judged to have had the greatest impact on her team's performance during the WUSA regular season. The MVP is a player who performed at a high level for her team, game after game. WUSA coaches, general managers, players and members of the media voted for the 2003 WUSA Most Valuable Player.
Women's United Soccer Association Stories from August 21, 2003
- Boston's Meinert Named MVP - WUSA
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