Franklin Pierce’s Johansson Earns All-W-League Honors
Junior All-American also a finalist for League MVP Award
RINDGE, N.H. (August 4, 2009) - Franklin Pierce University junior All-American Angelika Johansson (Falkenberg, Sweden) was named to the W-League's All-League Team as announced by the United Soccer Leagues (USL). She was also named as one of the three finalists for the W-League's Most Valuable Player award. The winner will be announced on Wednesday.
Johansson led the Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues in both goals and assists throughout her team's undefeated regular season. She ended the season with 36 points, which is currently second best in the league, netting 14 goals over the summer which is currently tied for second best in the league, while also dishing eight assists which is tied for eighth-best in the League. Johansson recorded the match-winning goal in four contests this summer.
Johansson earned three W-League "Team of the Week" honors, and was named W-League "Player of the Week" on June 10th as a member of the Lady Blues. Hudson Valley earned an automatic bye to the national semifinals as a result of owning the best regular season record (12-0-2, 38pts). However, the Lady Blues couldn't get past the defending champion Pali Blues on Friday night, suffering a 4-0 setback.
Johansson did have many memorable performances this summer. She
broke out with four goals in a 6-0 win over the New York Magic on
May 23rd to earn her first W-League "Team of the Week"
selection. Her goal and two assist performance on May 31st against
national finalist Washington Freedom landed her on the W-League
"Team of the Week" for the second time of the season. Johansson
earned her W-League "Player of the Week" honor after posting an
assist and match winning goal in a game on June 6th
against the Boston Renegades. On July 12th she dished
four assists against the Connecticut Passion.
The two-time Franklin Pierce All-American will return for her junior season for the Ravens after recording 40 goals and ten assists for 90 points over her first two collegiate seasons. Johansson's 40 career goals are 11th best in program history. She earned Daktronics East Region and Northeast-10 Conference Player of the Year honors after posting an NCAA Division II best 29 goals to go with five assists for a conference-leading 63 points. Johansson racked up five hat tricks and netted a conference best eight match-winning goals for the Ravens last fall. Johansson also earned ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America second team honors having achieved a 3.969 cumulative grade point average.
Franklin Pierce will kick off its 2009 season on Thursday, August 27, against Caldwell College at the Southern Connecticut State Autumn Invitational at 2 p.m. The Ravens first home match is slated for Friday, September 4, when they host Florida Southern College as part of "Pierce Pride Kickoff Weekend" at 4 p.m.
by Tim Palmer, sports information intern
