This week, Seattle Reign FC will be announcing its team awards for the 2016 season. The awards are voted on by the players and coaching staff at the club. Today, we announce the Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year.
Offensive Player of the Year — Manon Melis
Despite missing time due to injury, Manon Melis was Reign FC’s offensive leader during the 2016 season. It was Melis’ first season with the NWSL, and the forward responded well to a new league. Melis scored seven goals this season, good for first on Reign FC, and tallied two assists. After returning from injury, Melis was almost unstoppable, scoring four goals in the club’s last five games.
Defensive Player of the Year — Kendall Fletcher
Along with her team MVP award, Kendall Fletcher has been named Defensive Player of the Year. Fletcher was consistently a part of the back four this season, starting all 20 matches and logging over 1,700 minutes on the pitch. The defender helped lead a record-setting Reign FC defense that set two league records this season for most consecutive clean sheets with five and most minutes without conceding a goal at 531 minutes. Fletcher also helped the team tie for a league best eight total shutouts this season.
