SACRAMENTO, CA (07/30/09) - The Pacific Conference of the Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) had many story lines this Summer 2009, many teams rebound from adversity while some rose above even higher expectations from last season. One of the teams that faced the latter was Ajax America (14-1-1), as the 2008 WPSL National Champions faced an even tougher task in 2009 in a bolstered-South Division, but would persevere via penalty kicks in the Pacific playoffs to qualify for their fourth straight Final Four - held this weekend in Long Island.

Head Coach Brian Boswell could thank many players for his teams' return to the penultimate competition in the WPSL - and also his team's affiliation with the Los Angeles Sol of Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) - but one of his veterans came up with a sparkling season. Shannon Cross (19 goals) led the WPSL in scoring this season, propelling a strong offense alongside a stalwart defense that will go up against the Miami Kickers F.C. (8-1-2) this Sat., August 1st at 5:00 p.m in the first WPSL Semifinal at Adelphi University's Competition Field.

In hand with Cross' performance for Ajax, the former USC standout was named Player Of The Year alongside San Francisco's Ro Hernandez in the conference awards that were announced today. Hernandez is more than familiar with her fellow Co-POTY selection - as her North Division side made their first-ever post-season appearance & lost to Ajax in the Pacific Semifinal by a 1-0 score - and were led this season by the offensive & defensive versatility from the former WPSL National Championship medalist.

Another team that made their first WPSL post-season appearance in 2009 was SD United, finishing just behind Ajax in the South Division race with an 11-1-2 record. SDU Head Coach Elio Bello shares Coach Of The Year honors this season with Portland's Stan Rodrigues - who were an example of a team that faced & rebounded from adversity in the Pacific Conference - as he led the Rain through early season struggles to a classy 4th-place finish in the North Division.

Bello had a skillful offense this season at his disposal, but the strength for his side was their defense, which allowed only four goals all season (including the playoffs). Therefore, SD United's shot-stopper extraordinaire Michele Dalton gets the slightly higher nod for Goalkeeper Of The Year over Claremont's Alyssa Clark, as the Wisconsin Badger started in 11 of 14 matches for coach Bello this season. This is the second straight year that a SD United goalkeeper has been honored as the best in the conference, as Mexican WNT keeper Sophia Perez was awarded that honor in 2008.

Players to look out in the future (not just in the Pacific but the world of women's soccer): California's Norma Mendez... SD United's Lindsay Browne... both Clark & Dalton. For the full list of the 2009 All-Pacific Conference Team, see below:

2009 ALL-PACIFIC TEAM
F Shannon Cross (AJAX AMERICA)
F Nicole Wilcox (PORTLAND RAIN F.C.)
F Lindsay Browne (SD UNITED)
MF Kristin Mills (SAN FRANCISCO NIGHTHAWKS)
MF Giuliana Longmire (SAN DIEGO WFC SEALIONS)
MF Nadia Al-Lami (MONTEREY BLUES)
MF Susie Mischenko (LOS ANGELES RAMPAGE)
D/F Ro Hernandez (SAN FRANCISCO NIGHTHAWKS)
D Jennifer Brewer (AJAX AMERICA)
D Norma Mendez (CALIFORNIA STORM)
GK Michele Dalton (SD UNITED)
GK Alyssa Clark (CLAREMONT STARS)

Coach Of The Year: Elio Bello (SD UNITED) & Stan Rodrigues (PORTLAND RAIN F.C.)
Player Of The Year: Shannon Cross (AJAX AMERICA) & Ro Hernandez (SAN FRANCISCO NIGHTHAWKS)
Goalkeeper Of The Year: Michele Dalton (SD UNITED)

About the Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL): The WPSL is a 50-plus team national women's soccer league with five conferences and is considered one of the top amateur women's soccer leagues in the world. You can now also keep up with our league on our social networking sites on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com) and LinkedIn (http://www.linkedin.com)!

The Long Island Fury have been selected to host the 2009 WPSL Final Four which will be held at Adelphi University on August 1-2 (Garden City, NY) - alongside the Youth Premier Soccer League (YPSL) National Championship the same weekend. National Semifinal matches will be played at 5:00 & 7:30 p.m. on Sat., August 1st, while the WPSL National Final is set for a 2:30 p.m. kick-off on Sun., August 2nd. Check back to the official WPSL website in the coming days for all the info on the Final Four!

The WPSL's mission is to provide the highest level of women's soccer while simultaneously providing affordable, quality family entertainment and positive role models for our youth. For more information, visit our official website at http://www.wpsl.info, phone us at 1-800-854-0913 or contact us via email at media@wpslsoccer.com.