Carmel Native’s Standout Season Places Butler Bulldog on League’s Shortlist of Seven Finalists
The USL W League saw a historic and thrilling regular season with 44 teams from seven divisions playing in over 250 matches. Among the seven standout players who are in contention for the league’s first-ever USL W League Player of the Year is Indy Eleven forward Katie Soderstrom – and she needs YOUR help to earn one last win in 2022!
The Player of the Year will be decided by fans, coaches and technical staff and USL Executives – each group being awarded one third of the overall vote. Voting closes Thursday, July 21 at 10a.m. ET.
Soderstrom was an integral part of the Eleven women’s team’s successful inaugural season, during which she finished as the squad’s leading scorer on 11 goals after passing fellow striker Maddy Williams with a brace in the regular season finale on July 9 against Detroit City FC. The Carmel native and Butler University senior helped the squad finish the USLW regular season as one of three undefeated sides, its dominant 10W-0L-2D regular season record earning the Girls in Blue the Great Lakes Division title by a nine-point margin in the end.
The full list of seven nominees is as follows (in alphabetical order):
Amy Andrews, F, South Georgia Tormenta FC: Tormenta FC’s Amy Andrews was this year’s Golden Boot winner, leading the league with 16 goals in 10 matches. The England native recorded five braces, the most in the league. Andrews led her team to a 7-1-4 record and a spot in the postseason.
Mia Asenjo, F, Queensboro FC: University of Central Florida sophomore Mia Asenjo netted 11 goals in 12 matches for Queensboro FC this season. Asenjo scored in every match of Queensboro’s eight match winning streak during the regular season.
Christian Brathwaite, M, Greenville Liberty SC: A staple in Greenville’s midfield, 17-year-old Christian Brathwaite appeared in 11 matches, recording four goals and four assists. Braithwaite won the USL W League Fans’ Choice Goal of the Week in weeks 3 and 6, the only W League player with two GOTW wins.
Bailey Korhorn, F, Kalamazoo FC: Bailey Korhorn appeared in all 12 regular season matches for Kalamazoo, tallying 12 goals. The Western Michigan University forward recorded two braces and finished the season with 25 points, second-most in the USL W League.
Makenzie Langdok, D, Minnesota Aurora FC: Defender Mackenzie Langdok, a University of Minnesota product, anchored the Minnesota backline in eleven matches, helping the team only allow eight goals against on the season. Langdok also found herself in the attacking third quite a bit, netting four goals and a pair of assists.
Katie Soderstrom, F, Indy Eleven: Katie Soderstrom led Indy Eleven with 11 goals and an assist on the season. Soderstrom was nominated for the USL W League Fans’ Choice Goal of the Week in week 1+2. The Butler University forward was a part of a dynamic duo with Maddy Williams that combined for 21 goals on the way to a Great Lakes Division title.
Nicole Waters, M, Wake FC: Midfielder Nicole Waters appeared in every match for Wake FC, recording nine goals and five assists. Waters was nominated for the USL W League Fans’ Choice Goal of the Week in weeks 4 and 6. The Canadian helped Wake FC beat Greenville Liberty SC with two assists in the final match of the regular season.
