Less than a year after Bente Nordby was waived by the San Diego Spirit she has won the league championship in Norway playing for Kolbotn. Last Saturday, Bente Nordby concluded her remarkable season by holding defending Norwegian champions Trondheims/Ørn to a single goal on their home field as Kolbotn escaped with a 1-1 draw. Kolbotn finished on top of the Norwegian league table with a record of 15 wins 1 loss and 2 draws. Nordby played all but 5 minutes of Kolbotn's 18 matches this season and only allowed 9 goals for a miniscule goals against average of .502. With this recent league championship in Norway, Bente Nordby is now the only woman goalkeeper to have won a World Cup, an Olympic Gold Medal, and a club championship. Good luck next year to Bente as Kolbotn represents Norway in the UEFA Women's Club Championships.
Bente Honored At Norwegian Awards Banquet Last night at the annual awards banquet given by the Norwegian Sports Executive Committee Bente Nordby was honored as Norway's top goalkeeper. This year's Norwegian Women's 1st Team was dominated by Bente's League Champion Club Kolbotn and second place Asker, which had three players each on the squad. The only player named to this year's team who played outside of Norway was the Norwegian Player of the Year, Hege Riise. Here is Norway's complete 2002 Women's 1st Team: Goalkeeper Bente Nordby, Kolbotn Defenders Marianne Paulsen, Arna-Bjørnar Ane Stangeland, Klepp Ingvild Stensland, Kolbotn Brit Sandaune, Trondheims-Ørn Midfielders Hege Riise, Caroline Courage Monica Knudsen, Asker Solveig Gulbrandsen, Kolbotn Tone Gunn Frustøl, Asker Forwards Ingrid Camilla Fosse Sæthre, Arna-Bjørnar Marianne Pettersen, Asker