FILE - In this March 11, 2009 file photo, Hope Solo, goalkeeper of the United States, holds the tournament's best player award after their women's soccer Algarve Cup final with Sweden, outside Faro, southern Portugal. Hope Solo has been voted the U.S. Soccer Federation's Female Athlete of the Year, Monday, Dec. 21, 2009. (AP Photo/Miguel Angel Morenatti, File)
The United States Soccer Federation gave out their annual awards for 2009 on Monday. Among those honored was U.S. women's national team goalkeeper Hope Solo, who took home the award of "Female Athlete of the Year."
Solo's 2009 featured her rise to prominence on both the international and league scenes. She won both the MVP award at the Algarve Cup in Portugal as well as WPS Goalkeeper of the Year for her club team, the St. Louis Athletica.
In a video posted on USSoccer.com, Hope Solo thanked those who voted for her for the honor. Solo said on the website, "It’s a huge honor but also a really nice surprise to be voted the female athlete of the year for U.S. Soccer. I especially want to thank everyone for voting for a goalkeeper, as well as our goalkeeper coach Paul Rogers for helping me think about the position in a more sophisticated way, both technically and tactically.”
The other award winners were Landon Donovan, who was named "Male Athlete of the Year," plus Tobin Heath and Luis Gil, who were named USSF "Young Athletes of the Year."
Watch video of Hope Solo accepting her award and thanking her fans below:
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