Oct. 10, 2016

HOUSTON – Former South Carolina goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo (2011-14) earned MVP honors at the 2016 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Championship game after securing the league title for the Western New York Flash Sunday night at BBVA Compass Stadium.

The Flash, who won their first NWSL Championship in team history, scored a goal in the final seconds of overtime to pull even with the Washington Spirit and send the match into penalty kicks. D’Angelo was the difference in penalties, coming up with three saves, including the title-clinching stop on the Spirit’s fifth attempt.

D’Angelo boasted five saves for the match, two of which came in overtime. The performance capped off an incredible past few months for the Welland, Ontario, native, who earned a bronze medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics while competing for Canada.

D’Angelo played in 83 matches for South Carolina, earning NSCAA First-Team All-America honors during her junior and senior seasons. She ranks second in school history in shutouts (29) shutouts and goals against average (0.76), and her 81 starts are the most for a Gamecock goalkeeper. D’Angelo, who led the Gamecocks to three NCAA Tournament appearances, was drafted No. 21 overall by the Flash in 2015.