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Freedom's Bompastor Wins Player of the Month Award

June 5, 2009 - Women's Professional Soccer (WPS)
magicJack News Release


Germantown, Md. (June 5, 2009) - Washington Freedom midfielder Sonia Bompastor was named the WPS Player of the Month for the month of May, it was announced today by Women's Professional Soccer (WPS).

Bompastor becomes the league's second-ever monthly award recipient. English international Kelly Smith of the Boston Breakers won the first award for the month of April. Bompastor scored two goals and had three assists during the month of May, leading the Freedom to a 2-0-2 record in those matches and moving them from the bottom of the WPS standings to second place heading into this week's showdown with the first place Los Angeles Sol.

The French National Team midfielder was an automatic nominee for the award after claiming the WPS Player of the Week award on May 5th for Week 6 of the WPS Inaugural Season. Bompastor won the honor ahead of Lori Chalupny, Shannon Boxx and Karina LeBlanc.

The WPS Player of the Month award is voted on at the end of each month by team ballots, media vote, and online fan voting, each group accounting for one-third of the final tally. Fans are able to vote at the league's Fan Corner by visiting http://fancorner.womensprosoccer.com to help select the winner. The WPS Player of the Week award winners are voted on by a panel of journalists from the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR), and each winner during the month is automatically nominated for WPS Player of the Month.

Bompastor, who missed the Freedom's 4-3 victory over FC Gold Pride on April 26 due to a French National Team conflict, returned with a vengeance during the May 3 game against Saint Louis Athletica. Bompastor recorded two goals for the Freedom in their 3-3 draw against Saint Louis, including a 90th minute header past Athletica goalkeeper Hope Solo which tied the game at 3 goals a piece. Bompastor was named WPS Player of the Week following her May 3 performance.

Bompastor plays a critical role in the Freedom midfield. "Sonia brings in a European flare that is a great addition to our league. Her patience, scrappiness and creativity are qualities that have truly impressed me, but her love for the game is what makes her the player that she is today," says Freedom defender Cat Whitehill of her teammate.

Bompastor has put together several other noteworthy performances on the season. She recorded her first assist in a 1-1 draw against the Chicago Red Stars on April 11th. Bompastor found defender Becky Sauerbrunn on a cross in the 54th minute to tie the game, tallying the Freedom's first WPS goal.

In the Freedom's 2-1 win against Sky Blue on May 23rd, Bompastor linked up with Cat Whitehill on a cross to the near post, creating their first goal of the match.

The French midfielder recorded two assists against FC Gold Pride on May 31st. In the 22nd minute, she found Australian teammate Lisa De Vanna, who pushed the ball through the defense and found the back of the net. Bompastor's second assist of the match came in the 32nd minute off of a free kick opportunity. The ball was played into Bompastor, who stopped it for onrushing Cat Whitehill to blast into the back of the net for the Freedom's third goal of the match. The game would end in a 3-1 victory for the Freedom.

Coach Jim Gabarra is "very happy that Sonia has been named WPS Player of the Month. We have known for some time how special a player she is and it is gratifying for our club that she is recognized."

The French International has appeared in seven matches for the Freedom, starting in all seven appearances. She has recorded two goals and leads the league in assists with 4.

In this week's match-up, Sonia Bompastor and the #2 Freedom travel to the Home Depot Center to take on the #1 Los Angeles Sol. The game will kick-off at 6 p.m. on Sunday, June 7th, and will be broadcasted on Fox Soccer Channel.

The Washington Freedom is one of seven Women's Professional Soccer franchises and opened play in April, 2009. The team plays its home games at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Germantown, Md. and single-game tickets for all games, as well as group and season tickets are now on sale by calling 202-547-KICK. For online orders, package details and a seating chart, visit www.washingtonfreedom.com

About Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) The mission of Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) is to be the premier women's soccer league in the world and the global standard by which women's professional sports are measured. The Inaugural Season kicked off on March 29 and runs through August 22, 2009, with WPS teams based in the Bay Area, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New Jersey/New York, St. Louis, and Washington, D.C. The league's eighth franchise, Philadelphia, will begin play next season with Atlanta expected to join as the ninth team in 2010, as well. For more information, visit www.womensprosoccer.com.



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