PORTLAND THORNS FC'S ADRIANNA FRANCH VOTED 2017 NWSL GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR
Published on October 19, 2017 under National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) News Release
CHICAGO (Oct. 18, 2017) - Portland Thorns FC goalkeeper Adrianna Franch was voted the National Women's Soccer League Goalkeeper of the Year for the 2017 NWSL season, the league announced Wednesday.
Franch, 26, made 80 saves and posted a league-best 0.83 goals against average while helping the Thorns to 47 points during the regular season with a 14-5-5 record before she and her teammates went on to claim the 2017 NWSL Championship with a pair of playoff victories - including a 1-0 victory against the North Carolina Courage in the title match.
The Salina, Kansas native was one of six players that did not miss a single minute during the year as she set a new NWSL single-season record for shutouts with 11 clean sheets - breaking the previous mark of 10 shutouts established by FC Kansas City goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart in 2013.
The record-setting effort by Franch came as part of an overall defensive performance by Portland that was among the best in NWSL history as the Thorns tied the single-season record set by the 2014 Seattle Reign FC with a 0.83 GAA.
Seven of the shutouts recorded by the Oklahoma State product came at Providence Park this season as Portland tied the single-season league record for home shutouts - a performance in front of their own fans that enabled the Thorns to post the second-best home record in league history (2.58 points per game) as they became the first team to tally 10 home victories in a season.
List of NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year winners:
Year
Player
Club
2013
Nicole Barnhart
FC Kansas City
2014
Alyssa Naeher
Boston Breakers
2015
Michelle Betos
Portland Thorns FC
2016
Ashlyn Harris
Orlando Pride
2017
Adrianna Franch
Portland Thorns FC
The NWSL awards are voted on by club officials, players, media that cover the league on a consistent basis and fans.
National Women's Soccer League Stories from October 19, 2017
- North Carolina Courage's Abby Dahlkem - NWSL
- [Video for Media] Ellis, O'Hara, Lloyd and Mewis Discuss the U.S. WNT's Upcoming Match vs. Korea Rep - NWSL
- Forward Sam Kerr Named Team Most Valuable Player After Record-Breaking Season - Sky Blue FC
- PORTLAND THORNS FC'S ADRIANNA FRANCH VOTED 2017 NWSL GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR - NWSL
- Seattle Reign FC Goalkeeper Haley Kopmeyer on Loan to Canberra United FC - Seattle Reign FC
- Thorns FC Goalkeeper Adrianna Franch Named 2017 Nwsl Goalkeeper Of the Year - Portland Thorns FC
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