Award caps stellar summer for Raven All-American

RINDGE, N.H. (August 5, 2009) - Franklin Pierce University junior All-American Angelika Johansson (Falkenberg, Sweden) was named the W-League's Most Valuable Player as announced by the United Soccer Leagues (USL). Johansson adds the impressive award to her honors as she has been previously named a member of the W-League All-League and the All-Eastern Conference teams.

Johansson led the Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues in both goals and assists throughout her team's undefeated regular season (12-0-2). 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 and tallied a point in 11 of her 14 appearances. She racked up three W-League "Team of the Week" honors and one W-League "Player of the Week" award during the summer.   

"Angelika fulfilled all the high hopes we had for her this season," said Quickstrike head coach Jesse Kolmel. "Just when other teams thought they had shut her down, she would come through with moments of brilliance. She has been one of the best I've ever had the honor of coaching."

Johansson had many memorable performances this summer for Hudson Valley. She broke out with four goals in a 6-0 win over the New York Magic on May 23^rd 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-straight week. Johansson earned her W-League "Player of the Week" honor after posting an assist and match-winning goal in a game on June 6^th against the Boston Renegades. On July 12^th 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 11^th 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.