Dec. 7, 2005

CHICAGO, ILL. - The finalists for each of the four prestigious U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year awards - Male, Female, Young Male and Young Female - were announced recently by the sport's governing body in the United States. Amongst the nominees are former UNC star Kristine Lilly (1989-92) and current Tar Heel midfielder Lori Chalupny (2002-05).

With the announcement, voting for the high profile annual U.S. Soccer awards begins at ussoccer.com, with fans having the opportunity to make their selections through a multimedia voter interface once a day through Friday, Dec. 16, 2005.

Online votes for the annual awards will be tallied and equivalent to 50 percent of the total votes. As in years past, the other 50 percent will be represented by 100 votes compiled from members of the national media and U.S. Soccer representatives (from National Team coaches to the National Board of Directors).

In addition to voting for the annual U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year awards, fans can also vote daily for the fourth annual series of "Best of U.S. Soccer" awards until the Dec. 16 deadline. The 2005 "Best of U.S. Soccer" awards will be decided entirely by online fan votes. 2005 U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year Awards Male & Female

U.S. Soccer's Male and Female Athletes of the Year awards are the oldest and most prestigious awards of their kind, dating back to 1984 for the Men and 1985 for the Women. The finalists for each award were nominated on the basis of: a) competing and excelling at the highest level (both at the National Team and professional level) during the calendar year; b) exhibiting decorum on and off the field which reflects well on U.S. Soccer; and c) contributing toward the growth, development, credibility and popularization of soccer in the USA.

U.S. Soccer Female Athlete of the Year Candidates

Shannon Boxx, Midfielder
The defensive midfielder played a key role in the USA's streak of shutouts in 2005, expertly patrolling the space in front of the back four while serving as a key fulcrum in the U.S. attack. She is a world-class ball-winner in the midfield.

Kristine Lilly, Midfielder
The USA's captain had another remarkably productive and consistent year as she pumped up her world-record cap total to 299. Lilly scored four times with two assists, including two goals in a huge 4-0 win against Denmark at the 2005 Algarve Cup that sent the USA to the championship game.

Kate Markgraf, Defender
In a year that saw the U.S. women not allow a single goal, Markgraf was the rock in the back, starting every game and playing every minute. With the retirement of legendary defender Joy Fawcett, Markgraf became the leader of the U.S. defense in 2005 and was a consistent force on the back line.

Hope Solo, Goalkeeper
In a breakout year for Solo, she started seven of the nine matches the U.S. played and earned shutouts in all, tripling her career shutout totals. She had a fantastic tournament at the Algarve Cup in Portugal, making several key saves to keep Finland scoreless.

Christie Welsh, Forward
The USA's leading scorer in 2005, she tallied seven times in her nine matches, with one assist. Welsh was the leading scorer at the prestigious 2005 Algarve Cup in Portugal, scoring in all four matches including the game-winner in a dramatic 1-0 win over Germany in the championship game.

Young Male & Young Female

U.S. Soccer created the Young Male and Female Athlete of the Year awards in 1998 to highlight up-and-coming stars within the U.S. Youth National Team system. In deciding the annual winners, candidates must have played in at least one Youth National Team match for the U.S., and previous winners are no longer eligible. The finalists are listed below in alphabetical order:

U.S. Soccer Young Female Athlete of the Year Candidates

Lori Chalupny, Defender
With just two starts for the full Women's National Team coming into this year, the 21-year-old Chalupny started six games in 2005, including all four at the prestigious Algarve Cup, where she played left back for the first time in her soccer career.

Lauren Cheney, Forward
The 18-year-old Cheney saw time with the U.S. U-20, U-21 and full Women's National Teams in 2005. A powerful forward, she was the youngest member of the USA's 2005 Nordic Cup Team, playing in all four matches in Sweden while starting two.

Carli Lloyd, Midfielder
The dynamic midfielder got her first two senior caps in 2005, playing against Iceland and Mexico. Lloyd played the entire second half of the USA's final game of 2005 against the Mexicans, coming close to her first goal on several occasions.

Amy Rodriguez, Forward
After a meteoric rise in under a year from the U.S. U-17s, to the U-19s to the U-21s to the full National Team, the explosive forward earned her first two senior caps in 2005, playing against Finland and Denmark at the 2005 Algarve Cup.

Jill Oakes, Defender
The rock-solid Oakes, who was a key part of the USA's 2002 U-19 World Championship-winning team, earned her first senior cap at the 2005 Algarve Cup against Denmark, playing defensive midfield and almost scoring a header on one of her first touches of the game.

Year Female Athlete of the Year
1984 ---
1985 Sharon Remer
1986 April Heinrichs
1987 Carin Gabarra (nee Jennings)
1988 Joy Fawcett (nee Biefeld)
1989 April Heinrichs
1990 Michelle Akers
1991 Michelle Akers
1992 Carin Gabarra
1993 Kristine Lilly
1994 Mia Hamm
1995 Mia Hamm
1996 Mia Hamm
1997 Mia Hamm
1998 Mia Hamm
1999 Michelle Akers
2000 Tiffeny Milbrett
2001 Tiffeny Milbrett
2002 Shannon MacMillan
2003 Abby Wambach
2004 Abby Wambach

Year Young Female Athlete of the Year
1998 Cindy Parlow
1999 Lorrie Fair
2000 Aly Wagner
2001 Aleisha Cramer
2002 Lindsay Tarpley
2003 Catherine Reddick
2004 Heather O'Reilly

- Vote Now at ussoccer.com!