NWSL Sky Blue FC

Sky Blue FC Announces 2013 Team Awards

Published on August 21, 2013 under National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Sky Blue FC News Release


MORRISTOWN, NJ - Sky Blue FC announced its team awards today with Christie Rampone earning both the Defender of the Year and Most Valuable Player award as voted by coaches, players, staff and media.

Rampone, the U.S. Women's National Team and Sky Blue FC captain, has been the anchor for Sky Blue FC's back line this season. Her leadership has been pivotal for the squad.

"She's been our most important player by not only providing leadership but also direction and experience in the back line," Sky Blue FC head coach Jim Gabarra said. "She's had to play with three to five rookies in the back and having that back line for a period be one of the best defenses in the league is a real credit to her leadership."

Sky Blue FC set a franchise record 435-minute shutout streak this season and had nine clean sheets.

Rampone has played a total of 1,800 minutes, only missing two games while on USWNT duty.

"She's still probably one of the best individual defenders in the league," Gabarra said. "You combine that with the fact that she can organize and get more out of other players around her, that's the definition of a most valuable player. She makes everybody else around her better."

Forward Monica Ocampo claimed the Golden Boot after leading the squad with 8 goals at the conclusion of the regular season - two being game winners. She also had two assists.

"Given the opportunities, she's a goal scorer," Gabarra said of Ocampo. "She's scored some critical goals for us, especially during that period where Lisa De Vanna was injured and our U.S. and Canadian National Team players were gone."

Sky Blue FC has qualified for playoffs and will be facing Western New York in a semifinal match on Saturday, August 24th at 8 p.m. ET in Rochester, NY.

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