Page 81 - Soccer360 Issue 104

“NIGHSWONGER CAME INTO
THE NWSL
AND MADE AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT WITH GOTHAM, ”
Nighswonger made 11 appearances in their defense.
Between the posts, Campbell set the tone for all NWSL goalkeepers last season. The 28 year old led the league in saves with 91 and sported a .83 Goals Against Average, the lowest among all starting goalkeepers last year.
After a standout career in college with the Florida State Seminoles, Nighswonger came into the NWSL and made an immediate impact with Gotham, making 11 appearances in their defense. Making several key clearances throughout the season, Nighswonger worked seamlessly with veteran Ali Kriegerto provide solid coverage in the defensive midfield. She also showed that she has value on the attack, scoring two goals during the regular season.
Anytime that you can lead a team to their first-ever NWSL Championship and take a team from worst to first generally means that you have a chance at winning Coach of the Year. But Amonds did more than just giving Gotham supporters a title, he helped lift a team that had struggled to find a team philosophy and culture.
BEST XI FIRST TEAM:
Goalkeeper: Jane Campbell (Houston Dash); Defenders: Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC), Ali Krieger (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Sarah Gorden (Angel City FC),and Sam Staab (Washington Spirit); Midfielders/Forwards: Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC), Debinha (Kansas City Current), Jaedyn Shaw (San Diego Wave FC), Kerolin (North Carolina Courage), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns FC), and Lynn Williams (NJ/NY Gotham FC)
BEST XI SECOND TEAM:
Goalkeeper: Kailen Sheridan (San Diego Wave FC); Defenders: Emily Fox (North Carolina Courage), Kaleigh Kurtz (North Carolina Courage), Jenna Nighswonger (NJ/NY Gotham FC), and M.A. Vignola (Angel City FC);
Midfielders/Forwards: Savannah DeMelo (Racing Louisville FC), Savannah McCaskill (Angel City FC), Denise O’Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit), Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave FC), and Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit)
Emily Fox
GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR- JANE CAMPBELL
(HOUSTON DASH)
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR- JENNA NIGHSWONGER
(NJ/NY GOTHAM FC)
COACH OF THE YEAR- JUAN CARLOS AMONDS
(NJ/NY GOTHAM FC)
“AMONDS DID MORE THAN WIN, HE HELPED A TEAM THAT HAD STRUGGLED TO FIND PHILOSOPHY AND CULTURE. ”
Amonds talks to his team
Trinity Rodman
Kailen Sheridan
Alex Morgan
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