TAMPA, Fla. – The W-League announced its Team of the Week for Week 8 of the 2013 season, honoring Colorado Rapids Women forward Kristen Hamilton as Player of the Week after she almost singlehandedly kept her squad’s playoff hopes alive.

Hamilton, who will be a senior at the University of Denver in the fall, tallied a goal and an assist in a 2-1 win vs. Santa Clarita Thursday, and followed that performance with both goals in a huge 2-1 win at Seattle Sunday that kept the Rapids in the hunt for the Western Conference playoffs. Hamilton is joined on the Team of the Week by teammate Erin Gunther, who scored the game-winning goal in a 1-0 win vs. Bay Area that started Colorado’s three-win week.

Joining Gunther on defense are Long Island’s Gabby Charno, who led the Rough Riders to a shutout win vs. the Washington Spirit Reserves, and Rachel Daly of the LA Strikers, who held the back line together in a huge 2-1 win vs. the Pali Blues that kept the Strikers in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race. Selected for the goalkeeper spot is Charlotte’s Robyn Jones, who recorded 10 saves in a 2-0 win at Carolina Elite Thursday that tightened the Southeastern Conference playoff picture.

This week’s midfield is highlighted by Ottawa’s Alyscha Mottershead, who received strong consideration for Player of the Week after scoring twice in a comeback draw at Laval Friday. She also scored the only goal in a 1-0 win at Quebec City less than 24 hours later. She is joined by Dayton’s Kathryn Dolesh, who recorded a hat trick in a 4-1 win vs. Atlanta that helped the Dutch Lions move atop the Southeastern Conference standings, and Washington’s Amber Stobbs, who tallied a goal and an assist in a 2-1 bounce-back win against New York.

Rounding out the forwards are Bay Area’s Najma Homidi, who recorded a goal and two assists in a 3-1 win at the Colorado Rush, Shan Jones, who scored in both of Virginia Beach’s wins this past week, and Charlotte’s Macky Wingo, who tallied a goal and an assist in the win at Carolina Elite.

W-League Team of the Week
 

Pos	Player	Team	Highlights
GK	Robyn Jones	Charlotte	10-save shutout win at Carolina Elite
D	Gabby Charno	Long Island	Led defense in shutout win vs. Washington
D	Rachel Daly	Los Angeles	Led defense in huge 2-1 win vs. Pali
D	Erin Gunther	Col. Rapids	Scored GWG and constant threat at left back in 1-0 shutout win
M	Kathryn Dolesh	Dayton	Tallied hat trick in huge 4-1 win vs. Atlanta
M	Alyscha Mottershead	Ottawa	Scored both in 2-2 tie at Laval; GWG in 1-0 win at Quebec City
M	Amber Stobbs	Washington	Goal, assist as Spirit Reserves bounced back with 2-1 win vs. NY
F	Kristen Hamilton	Col. Rapids	2G in upset win vs. Sounders/G, A in 2-1 win vs. Santa Clarita
F	Najma Homidi	Bay Area	Goal and 2 assists in 3-1 win at Colorado Rush
F	Shan Jones	Virginia Beach	GWG in 4-0 win vs. No. Jersey/G started comeback in win vs. Fred.
F	Macky Wingo	Charlotte	Goal, assist, 8 SOG in crucial 2-0 win at Carolina

Honorable Mention – Atlanta - Alexis Hastings; Bay Area - Marissa Mykines; Carolina Elite - Rose Hull; Colorado Rapids - Pascale Pinard;Dayton - Alex Warren; Fredericksburg - Caty Butler; K-W United - Julie Karn, Maxine Murchie; Long Island - Grace Hawkins; New York -Candice Clark, Brittany Pfaff; Ottawa - Shalina Zadorsky; Santa Clarita - Ana Borges, Natalia Gomez Junco; Virginia Beach - Meghan Magee.