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2021 L1O Women's Premier Division Awards: Twidle Earns MVP, FC London Dominate Again

By Marty Thompson, 12/21/21, 9:45AM EST

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The 2021 L1O Women’s Premier Division Awards are here.

As voted by their peers, these six individual awards and the yearly first and second-team best XIs see the L1O’s best recognized for their efforts during a condensed 2021 campaign.


Click to Enlarge: 2021 L1O Women's Premier Division Award Winners

MVP: LAURA TWIDLE - BLUE DEVILS FC

Blue Devils FC captain and long-time L1O stalwart Laura Twidle hit a different gear in 2021, guiding a new-look side to the 2021 Final. The winger was a focal point in attack with six goals – including a massive semi-final winner to beat favourites FC London – proving to be the most talismanic player in L1O in 2021.

GOLDEN BOOT: JADE KOVACEVIC - FC LONDON

Who else? The FC London striker grabs her staggering fifth golden boot title in a row following a blistering 16-goal campaign – nearly double her next challenger across 11 matches and into the playoffs. L1O’s greatest goal scorer by some margin, the powerful striker added to her staggering 131 goals in 78 League1 appearances this season.

Midfielder of the Year: Julia Benati - FC London

Benati played all but a half-hour for the Londoners in 2021, proving again to be their engine in the middle of the park. The box-to-box midfielder was a sturdy element in a defensive core while providing three goals… Including this worldie from 45 yards out.

Coach of the Year: Dave Porco - Woodbridge Strikers

Porco was at the helm for Woodbridge’s awe-inspiring 2021 L1O Championship, finally bringing the team’s veteran core a title after years of contending. He also helped orchestrate a mid-season turnaround of the women’s side who sat on the playoff bubble and with a 2-2-3 record in the middle of September to end the season on four wins and a draw.

Defender of the Year: Meghan Scott - FC London

FC London’s go-to defensive force, Scott never missed a beat – or a minute – all season long as she played a key role on the left side of a defensive core that conceded just eight times in 12 matches of regular season play.

Golden Glove: Vanessa Fiore - Woodbridge Strikers

The 2021 L1O Champion was immense all season long for Woodbridge, conceding just eight times in 10 matches. Fiore saved her best for last, though, in the playoffs where she held firm in a semi-final win over Vaughan Azzurri (including through penalties) and backstopped Dave Porco’s side to a clean sheet victory in the final over the Blue Devils, making several key actions to ensure the win.

First & Second All-Star Teams: 2021 L1O Women's Premier Division

2021 L1O Women's Premier Division First Team All-Stars

Click to Enlarge: 2021 L1O Women's Premier Division First Team All-Stars

Goalkeeper
Woodbridge SC - Vanessa Fiore  

Defenders
FC London - Meghan Scott
Woodbridge SC - Christina White
Vaughan SC - Teniola Odetoyinho
Blue Devils FC - Talia Merino-Sierra

Midfielders
FC London - Julia Benati
Woodbridge SC - April Syme
Blue Devils FC - Lidia Bradau    

Forwards
FC London - Jade Kovacevic
Blue Devils FC - Laura Twidle
Hamilton United - Jenny Wolever


Click to Enlarge: 2021 L1O Women's Premier Division Second Team All-Stars

Goalkeeper
FC London - Emily Gillet            

Defenders
North Toronto SC - Olivia Mancini
Woodbridge SC - Ariana Mouratidis
Hamilton United - Lorena Marcone
Tecumseh - Brooke MacLeod

Midfielders
Hamilton United - Hannah Anderson
Vaughan SC - Brianne Desa
FC London - Angelika Mihalopulos
North Toronto SC - Jessie De Boer

Forwards
Hamilton United - Miranda Badovinac
Woodbridge SC - Kennedi Herrmann