SAN DIEGO -- Boston Breakers forward Maren Meinert was selected Thursday as the WUSA's MVP.
In her final season before retirement from club football, Meinert, of Germany, edged Washington forwards Mia Hamm and Abby Wambach. She is the second straight international player to win the award, following Philadelphia's Marinette Pichon of France.
This season, Meinert was sixth in league scoring with nine goals and 10 assists. But it was her leadership skills that keyed Boston's strong finish as the Breakers went 10-4-7 and were first overall in the standings.
Meinert, 30, also was voted the MVP of the league's All-Star game. She planned to play just one year in the WUSA, but instead stayed for three seasons and is tied for the career scoring lead with Atlanta's Charmaine Hooper at 81 points.
Meinert does not plan to play for Germany in the upcoming Women's World Cup.
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