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FC Kansas City’s Becky Sauerbrunn repeats as NWSL Defender of the Year

Becky Sauerbrunn’s <137>(right) <137>efforts against players like Houston’s Kealia Ohai (left) led to another award.<252><137>Kealia Ohai (7) of the Houston Dash and Becky Sauerbrunn (4) of FC Kansas City fight for the ball on Sunday May 18, 2014, at UMKC's Durwood Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Brian Davidson / Special to the Star)<252><137>
Becky Sauerbrunn’s <137>(right) <137>efforts against players like Houston’s Kealia Ohai (left) led to another award.<252><137>Kealia Ohai (7) of the Houston Dash and Becky Sauerbrunn (4) of FC Kansas City fight for the ball on Sunday May 18, 2014, at UMKC's Durwood Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Brian Davidson / Special to the Star)<252><137> Special to the Star

FC Kansas City’s Becky Sauerbrunn became the National Women’s Soccer League’s first repeat award winner when she was named Defender of the Year on Tuesday. The awards are voted on by journalists covering the league.

Sauerbrunn played 22 games for the Blues this season and anchored the defense which recorded a league-best nine shutouts, including Saturday’s 2-0 victory against Portland Thorns FC in the NWSL semifinals. The team ranked third with a 1.33 goals-against average.

Sauerbrunn, St. Louis native, also scored her first NWSL goal this season in a 2-1 victory on July 30 against the Washington Spirit.

FC Kansas City will face Seattle Reign FC in the NWSL championship game on Sunday at 2 p.m. at Starfire Stadium in Tukwila, Wash.

To reach Kathleen Gier, call 816-234-4875 or send email to kgier@kcstar.com.

This story was originally published August 26, 2014 at 1:32 PM with the headline "FC Kansas City’s Becky Sauerbrunn repeats as NWSL Defender of the Year."

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