NWSL 2018 Week 19

After a postponement for the one game scheduled in the international break, NWSL play returns with a four-game Sunday. First up...

The North Carolina Courage host the Portland Thorns FC. Adrianna Franch and Katelyn Rowland are set to start in goal. North Carolina began in the thirty-seventh minute with a Lynn Williams goal, set up by Jessica McDonald. The Courage added on in the forty-fifth minute with another Williams goal, after Merritt Mathias saw her cross deflect to the striker. Portland's Emily Sonnett received a yellow card for a foul in first half stoppage time, a brutal tackle on Debinha. The Thorns got one back in the forty-ninth minute with a Lindsey Horan goal, coming off of Tobin Heath. In the eighty-fifth minute, Portland's Caitlin Foord received a yellow card for a foul. The final held at 2-1, with Williams named woman of the match. Also strong for the Courage were Abby Erceg, Mathias, McCall Zerboni, Samantha Mewis, and McDonald. For the Thorns, Franch (eight for ten in saves), Horan, and Heath had good performances.

Down in Orlando, the Pride welcome Sky Blue FC. Kailen Sheridan and Ashlyn Harris protect the nets. Orlando's Kristen Edmonds received a yellow card for a thirty-second minute foul. The Pride got going in the fifty-first minute on a Marta goal after a rebound from Dani Weatherholt's shot. Sky Blue tied it in the fifty-third minute with an Imani Dorsey goal, set up by Shea Groom. Sky Blue took the lead on a Groom goal, via Savannah McCaskill. Orlando retied it as Weatherholt pursued a ball that Sheridan failed to grab, walking it into the net for the equalizer. The Pride saw yellow cards for Camila and Alanna Kennedy's fouls in the seventy-eighth minute and stoppage time. Sky Blue went down to ten women three minutes after Kennedy's foul when Carli Lloyd stopped a shot on the line with her hand, but Marta missed the ensuing penalty kick, leaving the game at 2-2. The woman of the match was Weatherholt, while the Pride also saw strong performances from Christine Nairn, Marta, and Chioma Ubogagu. Sky Blue's best were Mandy Freeman, Dorsey, Groom, and Sheridan (six for eight in saves).

West to Houston, where the Dash bring in the Utah Royals FC. Nicole Barnhart and Jane Campbell are in the six-yard boxes. Houston opened in the forty-first minute with a Veronica Latsko goal, assisted by Sofia Huerta. In the forty-eighth minute, the Dash's Huerta took a yellow card for a foul. Utah tied it in the seventy-seventh minute when Christen Press caught Amber Brooks unawares, picking her pocket and chipping a shot past Campbell for the goal. The Royals took the lead on Katie Stengel goal in the eighty-third minute, made possible by Erika Tymrak. This led to Utah winning 2-1, with the woman of the match being Press. Also strong for the Royals were Gunnhildur Jonsdottir, Becky Sauerbrunn, and Barnhart (four for five in saves). For the Dash, Clare Polkinghorne, Latsko, Huerta, and Nichelle Prince played best.

Finally, the Seattle Reign FC host the Washington Spirit. Didi Haracic is mismatched with Lydia Williams in goal. Seattle led off in the forty-fourth minute with a Jasmyne Spencer goal, via Allie Long and Jodie Taylor. The Reign added on in the seventy-first minute with a Jodie Taylor goal, set up by Megan Rapinoe on the throw-in. In the eighty-fourth minute, Megan Oyster of Seattle took a yellow card for a foul against Rose Lavelle. The game ended at 2-0, with the woman of the match being Spencer. Also strong for the Reign were Williams (two-save clean sheet), Alyssa Kleiner, Theresa Nielsen, Long, Jess Fishlock, Rapinoe, and Taylor, while the Spirit had good games from Estelle Johnson, Whitney Church, Taylor Smith, and Ashley Hatch.

NWSL Team of the Week
GK Nicole Barnhart
RB Theresa Nielsen
CB Clare Polkinghorne
CB Abby Erceg
LB Alyssa Kleiner
DM Lindsey Horan
AM Imani Dorsey
AM Marta
AM Sofia Huerta
FW Lynn Williams
FW Jasmyne Spencer