Photo Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images
Early weekend National Women’s Soccer League action featured four games that all ended with a 2-1 scoreline. To start, Seattle ended its five-game scoreless and winless streak in Boston on Friday. Saturday began with a win for North Carolina over Louisville, then Utah kept its nine-game unbeaten streak going by defeating Denver. The day finished with Houston downing Angel City to end their own six-game winless streak.
Graham scores stoppage-time winner for Houston
The Houston Dash had not won a game since April 3 against Racing Louisville. The following six-game winless string saw the Dash lose four and draw two since then, until Saturday. Houston opened the scoring in the 17th minute through forward Kat Radar, assisted by Kate Faasse. It was Radar’s fourth goal of the season, tying her with Lia Godfrey for the most goals scored by a rookie this season.
Angel City equalized through a Maiara Niehues spot kick in the 26th minute. It was her second goal of the season. In net for Houston was goalkeeper Caroline DeLisle, making her first career NWSL start.
Houston would re-take the lead in stoppage time with some beautiful one-touch passing to unlock Maggie Graham just in behind the defense. Graham dribbled towards the edge of the box and found the bottom corner of the far post for her third goal of the season.
Seattle finally ends scoreless and winless streak
While the NWSL playing its first-ever game in the state of Rhode Island was a big moment for the Boston Legacy, it was the Reign who came out victorious on Friday night. Entering their first match against the expansion team, the Reign had not scored or won in five consecutive games.
An early handball and penalty converted by Sofia Huerta ended the scoreless streak in the 12th minute of her 200th career start. Huerta is the only player in league history to score in her 200th career regular season start (fifth to reach the milestone) and is the only player in league history to score in every season since her rookie year in 2015.
Seattle scored from the run of play five minutes into the second half when Maddie Dahlien finished off a quality cross from defender Madison Curry. It was Dahlien’s first goal of the season and the fifth of her young career, with all five having served as game-winners after Boston pulled back a late goal.
The Legacy have yet to keep a clean sheet in their inaugural season, but have now scored in six consecutive games thanks to Aïssata Traoré’s late goal.
Utah keeps rolling as Palacios scores first NWSL goal
The Royals are on a new club-record nine-game unbeaten streak after defeating Denver Summit 2-1, level on points with Portland at the top of the standings.
Utah’s counterpress continues to be incredibly effective as it led to the opening goal in the 20th minute, with pressure from Cloè Lacasse forcing the turnover inside Denver’s penalty box. Kiana Palacios was able to capitalize on Lacasse’s win with a first-time left-footed shot. The tally marked Palacios’ first NWSL goal since she was signed in the offseason from Club América for a reported $800,000 transfer fee, believed to be the second-highest outgoing transfer from Liga MX Femenil.
Denver were able to equalize before halftime against the run of play with a beautiful connection between Delanie Sheehan and Yazmeen Ryan.
Utah retook the lead in the 72nd minute thanks to a calm and collected penalty kick from Mina Tanaka.
Sanchez and Ijeh lead NC to victory again
Saturday’s first game featured the North Carolina Courage visiting Racing Louisville and securing their 100th regular season win in franchise history. The Courage are the first non-original NWSL team to hit the century mark in the league.
After scoring her first NWSL goal last week, Evelyn Ijeh scored for a second consecutive game, netting the game’s opening goal in the 17th minute.
Ashley Sanchez would add an insurance goal in the 78th minute with a calm finish inside the box. The attacker continues to add to her career-high scoring tally, with Saturday’s goal her seventh of the season, putting her second in the Golden Boot race behind Barbra Banda. Both Sanchez and Ijeh also scored in the team’s prior game, a 4-0 victory over Chicago.
That extra cushion proved to be crucial to the win as Racing Louisville pulled a goal back in stoppage time. Defender Arin Wright found herself unmarked in the box on a corner kick and was able to head the ball into the back of the net. It was too little too late for the home team, though.
Louisville goalkeeper injury and debut
Some concern for Racing as goalkeeper Jordyn Bloomer had to be subbed out 22 minutes into the match due to a reported leg injury. Maddie Prohaska, who was acquired ahead of the season in a trade with the Seattle Reign, replaced her to make her NWSL debut.
