PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Thorns FC midfielders Tobin Heath and Allie Long and defender Emily Menges earned National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Best XI honors for the 2016 season, it was announced today.
Heath, 28, was named to her first NWSL Best XI after recording a goal and setting a new league record for assists (10) in 14 matches (13 starts) during the 2016 regular season. Heath was instrumental in all offensive aspects for the club, as she led the team in assists, shots on goal (18) and corner kicks taken (61). The Basking Ridge, N.J., native was named the NWSL Player of the Month for the month of April and also picked up NWSL Player of the Week honors for Week 6. Heath was named to her third Olympic roster, starting in three matches, while registering a pair of assists during the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Long, 29, appeared in 15 matches (all starts) during the regular season for Thorns FC. The Huntington, N.Y., native finished the 2016 regular season tied for second on the team in goals (6) and tied for third in assists (2). Long scored five of her six goals in the final four games of the season, bringing her career regular-season total to 28, which ranks third all-time in NWSL history. The career leader in games played (83) across all competitions for Portland, Long appeared in all four matches for the U.S. Women’s National Team during the 2016 Rio Olympics. Long was named the NWSL Player of the Month for the month of September and also earned NWSL Player of the Week honors for Week 19. An NWSL Best XI selection last season, Long also was named to the NWSL Second XI in 2014.
Menges, 24, was named to her first NWSL Best XI after becoming the only Thorns FC player to start all 20 games this season and play every minute of every match. During the regular season, Menges was not issued 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.
The NWSL Best XI team (listed at position, alphabetically by last name):
<strong>Position</strong> |
<strong>Player</strong> |
<strong>Club</strong> |
<strong>Country</strong> |
<strong>Note</strong> |
Goalkeeper |
Ashlyn Harris |
Orlando Pride |
USA |
62 saves |
Defender |
Lauren Barnes |
Seattle Reign FC |
USA |
1,775 minutes |
Defender |
Arin Gilliland |
Chicago Red Stars |
USA |
1.00 team GAA |
<strong>Defender</strong> |
<strong>Emily Menges</strong> |
<strong>Portland Thorns FC</strong> |
<strong>USA</strong> |
<strong>0.95 team GAA</strong> |
Defender |
Becky Sauerbrunn |
FC Kansas City |
USA |
1.00 team GAA |
<strong>Midfielder</strong> |
<strong>Tobin Heath</strong> |
<strong>Portland Thorns FC</strong> |
<strong>USA</strong> |
<strong>Goal, 10 assists</strong> |
<strong>Midfielder</strong> |
<strong>Allie Long</strong> |
<strong>Portland Thorns FC</strong> |
<strong>USA</strong> |
<strong>6 goals, 2 assists</strong> |
Forward |
Jessica McDonald |
Western New York Flash |
USA |
10 goals, 7 assists |
Forward |
Kealia Ohai |
Houston Dash |
USA |
11 goals, 4 assists |
Forward |
Christen Press |
Chicago Red Stars |
USA |
8 goals |
Forward |
Lynn Williams |
Western New York Flash |
USA |
11 goals, 5 assists |
NWSL Second XI – Goalkeeper: Alyssa Naeher, Chicago Red Stars – Defenders: Julie Johnston, Chicago Red Stars; Ali Krieger, Washington Spirit; Christie Rampone, Sky Blue FC; Casey Short, Chicago Red Stars – Midfielders: Danielle Colaprico, Chicago Red Stars; Vanessa DiBernardo, Chicago Red Stars; Jess Fishlock, Seattle Reign FC; Kim Little, Seattle Reign FC – Forwards: Crystal Dunn, Washington Spirit; Shea Groom, FC Kansas City
The NWSL awards are voted on by club officials, players, media that cover the league on a consistent basis and fans.
