FC Kansas City announces team awards

FC Kansas City announced the winners of its team awards on Monday, as voted on by the players, coaching staff, front office and season ticket holders.

The award for goal of the year goes to Yael Averbuch for her free kick against the Western New York Flash on Aug. 8 at Swope Soccer Village. She lined up 30 yards out, chipped the ball over a wall of defenders and past the outstretched arms of goalkeeper Chantel Jones.

Liberty native Shea Groom was tabbed as rookie of the year, with four goals and two assists after being selected in the second round of the 2015 National Women’s Soccer League College Draft. She made her debut in the season opener and scored her first goal three matches later against the Houston Dash.

FIFA Women’s World Cup champion and Olympic gold medalist Heather O’Reilly was selected as FC Kansas City’s newcomer of the year. She was acquired through a trade with the Boston Breakers and played 11 matches for the Blues, with two goals and three assists.

Amy LePeilbet was voted FCKC’s most valuable player and she shared defender of the year honors with Becky Sauerbrunn, after helping the Blues finish the regular season with nine shutouts and a one-goal per game average. Sauerbrunn was also on the World Cup squad and LePeilbet played every minute for the Blues coming off an ACL surgery.

National teamer Amy Rodriguez earned the golden boot award, after leading the team in goals for the second straight season. She had six goals and four assists during the regular season.

Jen Buczkowski won the FC Kansas City honorary award as the only player in the league to play all 66 regular season matches through the first three years. She had one goal and two assists this season.

This story was originally published September 14, 2015 at 3:28 PM with the headline "FC Kansas City announces team awards."