PORTLAND, Ore. – Following the conclusion of the 2016 National Women’s Soccer League regular season, three Portland Thorns FC players were named recipients of club awards for the 2016 campaign.
Highlighting this season’s list of award winners in the club’s fourth season are Thorns FC defender Emily Menges, forward Nadia Nadim and defender Emily Sonnett.
Most Valuable Player; Defensive Player of the Year; Supporters’ Player of the Year – Emily Menges
Voted by the executive staff and Thorns FC players and coaches, defender Emily Menges was selected as the team’s Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year for the 2016 season. Menges was the most familiar face on the field for Thorns FC this season, as she was the only player to start all 20 games this season and play every minute of every match. During the regular season, Menges did not pick up a single yellow card and only committed three fouls. The Garden City, N.Y., native was part of a backline that allowed a league-low 19 goals and a 0.95 goals-against average during the regular season as Thorns FC became just the third team in league history to allow fewer than one goal per game. Additionally, Menges was named Supporters’ Player of the Year.
Golden Boot – Nadia Nadim
Forward Nadia Nadim was the recipient of the team’s Golden Boot award. In her first season with the club, Nadim tallied a career-high nine goals and finished fourth in the league in goals scored. One of two players to start and play in all 20 regular-season matches for Thorns FC, Nadim’s nine goals in 2016 ranks third in team history for the most goals scored in a single campaign behind Jessica McDonald’s 11 goals in 2014 and Allie Long’s 10 tallies in 2015. The Denmark international was part of an offensive unit that ranked second in the league in goals scored (35). Nadim was also perfect from the penalty spot, converting all four of her attempts this season.
Rookie of the Year – Emily Sonnett
Voted by Thorns FC coaches, defender Emily Sonnett was selected as the team’s Rookie of the Year. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NWSL College Draft, Sonnett started and played 90 minutes in all of her 15 appearances for Portland during the regular season. She became the third rookie in team history to start in a Thorns FC home opener, logging 90 minutes in her NWSL and Thorns FC debut – a 2-1 win over the Orlando Pride at Providence Park on April 17. The Marietta, Ga., native scored her first professional goal in the semifinals of the 2016 NWSL Playoffs in a 4-3 loss to the Western New York Flash at Providence Park on Oct. 2. Additionally, Sonnett was selected as an alternate to the U.S. Women’s National Team for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
2016 Portland Thorns FC Club Awards
Most Valuable Player; Defensive Player of the Year; Supporters’ Player of the Year – Emily Menges
Golden Boot – Nadia Nadim
Rookie of the Year – Emily Sonnett
