W-League All-Conference team

United Soccer Leagues announced Friday the statistical award winners for the 2008 W-League season and the All-Conference Teams, honoring 33 of the top players in the league as voted on by team coaches and general managers.

French and Murphy both honored for fourth timeThe Atlanta Silverbacks’ Sarah Steinmann finished as the Scoring and Goal Scoring Champion for the season with a league-leading 40 points and 19 goals, a breakout performance for the sixth-year W-League veteran. The numbers were triple what she posted last season when she notched only six goals in a season in which she played the fewest games (eight) in her career. They were twice what she registered in her best season, an eight-goal campaign in 2006. Steinmann originally began her W-League career with the Charlotte Lady Eagles in 2003-04 before moving to Atlanta. She had 25 goals in her previous five seasons in the league.

Laura Del Rio of the FC Indiana Lionesses finished as the W-League Assist Leader with nine on the season. Combined with her 13 goals on the season, Del Rio also finished second in the league in points with 35.

In goal, it was Pali Blues netminder Valerie Henderson winning the GAA Champion award with the league’s lowest goals against average of 0.142. Henderson posted shutouts in six of her seven games played, allowing just one goal on the year.

Among the W-League All-Conference selections were several players who have received the honor several times. Charlotte’s Tina Murphy and Seattle’s Michelle French are both being recognized for the fourth time in their careers (both in 2004, 2006 and 2007) while Tiffeny Milbrett was selected for the third straight year.

Being honored for a second time are Chicago’s Jen Buczkowski (2006), Jersey’s Fanta Cooper (2004), Washington’s Lori Lindsey (2007) and Pali trio Kendall Fletcher (2004), Amy LePeilbet (2005) and Jill Oakes (2007).

W-LEAGUE ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS
Central Conference
G Erin Kane Chicago Gaels
D Ashley Kennedy Ottawa Fury
D Marie-Eve Nault FC Indiana Lionesses
D Cindy Walsh Laval Comets
M Jen Buczkowski Chicago Gaels
M Chelsea Cline Minnesota Lightning
M Alicia Donaldson Toronto Lady Lynx
M Julianne Sitch FC Indiana Lionesses
F Brittany Bisnott Toronto Lady Lynx
F Laura Del Rio FC Indiana Lionesses
F Shay Powell Ottawa Fury Eastern Conference

Eastern Conference
G Mallori Lofton-Malachi Tampa Bay Hellenic
D Fanta Cooper Jersey Sky Blue
D Therese Luckner Boston Renegades
D Sue Weber Long Island Rough Riders
M Stacey Bishop Tampa Bay Hellenic
M Lori Lindsey Washington Freedom
M Tina Murphy Charlotte Lady Eagles
M Lyndsey Patterson Atlanta Silverbacks
F Sarah Steinmann Atlanta Silverbacks
F Fortuna Velaj Connecticut Passion
F Christie Welsh Washington Freedom

Western Conference
G Valerie Henderson Pali Blues
D Kendall Fletcher Pali Blues
D Amy LePeilbet Pali Blues
D Afton Sauer Real Colorado Cougars
D Katrin Schmidt Vancouver Whitecaps
M Michelle French Seattle Sounders
M Katie Hooker Real Colorado Cougars
M Jill Oakes Pali Blues
F Danesha Adams Pali Blues
F Katie Erikkson Fort Collins Force
F Tiffeny Milbrett Vancouver Whitecaps