SACRAMENTO, CA (07/29/09) - While all the attention in the Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) has been focused on the upcoming Final Four this weekend in Long Island, we take some time to reflect on the top players & performances from the Summer 2009 regular season. In this first edition of conference-related honors, the WPSL East is in the spotlight as a whole while the undefeated conference champions in the Long Island Fury prepare to host the 2009 National Championship this weekend.

The Final Four hosts (12-0-1) will face-off against the only other undefeated team left in WPSL competition - the Big Sky Conference champion Dallas Premier (10-0-1) - in the second WPSL National Semifinal match this Saturday, August 1st at 7:30 p.m. The Fury's award cabinet may need a new wing, as four Long Island players were named to the First & Second Teams - leading the conference - in what was a strong season from the top to the bottom in the WPSL East.

The Fury's dynamic forward Vicki DiMartino (9g, 1a) and stalwart defender Alyssa Pember share East Player of the Year honors, as the former is second in scoring in the WPSL while the defensive performance from the latter during Long Island's last six matches has drawn rave reviews from her home team & opponent alike. Long Island head coach Paul Riley can be proud of his offensive & defensive stars, and they in turn can be proud of him, as he was the run-away choice for East Coach of the Year.

Two other organizations were honored with three players on the All-East First & Second Teams, as the Boston Aztecs and Millburn Magic were awarded for their strong seasons. Boston goalkeeper Ashley Phillips (7 ShO, 5 goals allowed in 10 matches) shares East Goalkeeper of the Year honors alongside the rock-solid play from Joy Shaiebly of the Lancaster Inferno - who ironically, foiled the Aztecs in a WPSL East play-off victory.

The Boston honorees in Phillips, Sophia Mundy & 2008 WPSL East Player of the Year Mary-Frances Monroe all have connections with the Boston Breakers of Women's Professional Soccer (WPS): Phillips signed a developmental contract in the pre-season while the play of Mundy & Monroe during the regular season earned them contracts & call-ups with the WPS side. Millburn's strong run at the end of the regular season into the East Final was not lost in the shuffle, as head coach Andy Sones can congratulate three of his players for their contributions in their best WPSL season to date.

Players to look out in the future (not just in the East but the world of women's soccer): Millburn's Katie Ryan... New England's Karen Gurnon... TSC Maryland's Anabel Jimenez... Long Island's Alaina Beyar. For the full list of the 2009 All-East Conference First & Second Teams, see below:

2009 ALL-EAST FIRST TEAM
F Vicki DiMartino (LONG ISLAND FURY)
F Katie Ryan (MILLBURN MAGIC)
F/MF Sophia Mundy (BOSTON AZTECS)
MF Kelly Henderson (LONG ISLAND FURY)
MF Jenny Maurer (NEW ENGLAND MUTINY)
MF Mandy Moraca (PHILADELPHIA LIBERTY)
MF Megan Monroig (LANCASTER INFERNO)
MF Laura Burnett-Kurie (ADIRONDACK LYNX)
D Alyssa Pember (LONG ISLAND FURY)
D Lina Staropoli (MILLBURN MAGIC)
D Karen Gurnon (NEW ENGLAND MUTINY)
GK Ashley Phillips (BOSTON AZTECS)

2009 ALL-EAST SECOND TEAM
F Jen Leaverton (BAY STATE SELECT)
F Keriann Welch (SOCCERPLUS CT)
F/MF Anabel Jimenez (TSC MARYLAND PRIDE)
MF Mary-Frances Monroe (BOSTON AZTECS)
MF Becky Ryan (SOCCERPLUS CT)
MF Stephanie Barrett (NEW YORK A.C.)
MF Laura Kurash (MILLBURN MAGIC)
MF Jenna Roncarati (BAY STATE SELECT)
D Alaina Beyar (LONG ISLAND FURY)
D Jamie Zimmerman (PHILADELPHIA LIBERTY)
D Courtney Fedge (NEW YORK A.C.)
GK Joy Shaiebly (LANCASTER INFERNO)

Coach Of The Year: Paul Riley (LONG ISLAND FURY)
Player Of The Year: Vicki DiMartino & Alyssa Pember (LONG ISLAND FURY)
Goalkeeper Of The Year: Ashley Phillips (BOSTON AZTECS) & Joy Shaiebly (LANCASTER INFERNO)

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.