Long Wins First WPS Player of the Week Honor for 2011
April 13, 2011 - Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) News Release
SAN FRANCISCO, CA (April 13, 2011) - Midfielder Allie Long is Women's Professional Soccer's first Player of the Week in 2011 after superbly setting the tone for Sky Blue FC's attack in a 2-2 draw Sunday against the Philadelphia Independence.
This is the first such honor for Long, who joined New Jersey-based Sky Blue after two seasons with the Washington Freedom. She is just the third Sky Blue player selected Player of the Week, joining Natasha Kai (2009, Week 17) and goalkeeper Karen Bardsley (2010, Week 5).
Long was the catalyst as Sky Blue leapt to a 2-0 advantage by the 36th minute, delivering the ball that Brittany Taylor fed for Laura Kalmari's opener and creating space for the attack throughout the first half. Casey Nogueira netted the second goal, and the Independence rallied to tie with second-half goals by Amy Rodriguez and, in the 90th minute, Tina DiMartino.
The Northport, NY native joined Sky Blue FC during the offseason, following her former Washington Freedom coach Jim Gabarra to the North East. Long began her professional career in 2009, when she was selected by Gabarra and the Freedom in the first round of the WPS Draft. The 24-year old has scored four goals and earned one assist in her career to date. Prior to joining WPS, Long was a member of the North Carolina Tar Heels team that captured the 2008 NCAA National Championship.
The WPS Player of Week is selected by a panel of journalists from the North American Soccer Reporters.
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Women's Professional Soccer Stories from April 13, 2011
- WPS Weekly - Week 1 - WPS
- Allie Long Named WPS Player of the Week - Sky Blue FC
- Long Wins First WPS Player of the Week Honor for 2011 - WPS
- Beat Sign Wake Forest Midfielder - Atlanta Beat
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