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FC Kansas City Announces Team Awards

October 10, 2017 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
FC Kansas City News Release


Four Players Selected by Fans and Player for Team Honors

KANSAS CITY - FC Kansas City announced the winners of their annual end of season awards today. The team announced the following awards, Golden Boot, Newcomer of the Year, Defender of the Year and FCKC MVP.

Following a furious end of the season rally that saw FC Kansas City earn points in eight of their last ten matches, there were many candidates. The team surveyed staff, players and fans to help select the winners.

Golden Boot - After missing much of the last two seasons due to injury and pregnancy, fans anxiously awaited Sydney Leroux's return to the lineup. They didn't have to wait long as she scored her first goal of the season in the opening game, helping to lead the team to their first opening day win in team history. By the end of the season, Leroux led the team with six scores.

Newcomer of the Year - FC Kansas City's head coach Vlatko Andonovski is not afraid to bring new players to his team, adding eight players to this year's roster who didn't play for his side in 2016. Rookie Christina Gibbons proved to have the biggest impact for the Blues this season. She played in all 24 games, starting all but one. She started the season along the backline, but a mid-season move to the central midfield energized the team and helped them on their late run.

Defensive Player of the Year - Becky Sauerbrunn has been the league's most consistent defender throughout the five-year history of the NWSL. In 2017 she led the league in blocks (24), was 4th in connected passes (1,176). A two-time winner of the NWSL Defender of the Year already, Sauerbrunn added an offensive element to her game this year as well, scoring a goal and two assists on the year.

FC Kansas City MVP - The only player to play every minute of every game this season, Nicole Barnhart was voted as the Blues' MVP by fans and her teammates. Barnhart played in her 100th career NWSL match this season, the first player to do it exclusively with FC Kansas City. She added to her team records and her six Clean Sheets increased her All-Time NWSL record to 38 games!

FC Kansas City is currently accepting deposits for 2018 Season Tickets. For more information visit FCKansasCity.com

FC Kansas City is a founding member and proud two-time champion of the National Women's Soccer League. Fans can keep up-to-date on the most recent club news by following the Blues' official Twitter account (@FCKansasCity).

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