June 11, 2008

TAMPA - Former Illinois defender Mary Therese McDonnell collected honorable mention W-League Team of the Week honors after notching the game-winning goal for the Boston Renegades in a 1-0 victory over the Washington Freedom. McDonnell is the second Illini to earn the league's weekly honors this season, joining senior defender Emily Zurrer, who is playing for the Vancouver Whitecaps.

After the two teams played to a scoreless tie through the first half, the Renegades got on the board with a counter attack goal in the 54th minute. McDonnell took a pass from Alison Martino inside the 18 and drilled the ball into the corner of the net for the 1-0 lead.

McDonnell also led the Renegades to their fifth straight victory as she tallied a pair of goals in a 4-1 win over the Northern Virginia Majestics. Boston found an opening in the 41st minute when forward Jamie Craft collected a Majestic turnover and fed McDonnell for the finish, giving Boston the 1-0 half time lead. McDonnell did not have to wait nearly as long in the second half, pouncing on a loose ball in the Majestic defensive third and scoring the ultimate game-winner in the 50th minute.