NWSL Week 14: Goalkeeping and set piece mastery highlight the week, major upset buoys Racing Louisville | OneFootball

NWSL Week 14 saw the inevitable happen, as Sam Kerr scored her first NWSL goal since her return. Boston won again to keep their playoff hopes very much alive, and Utah displayed sheer perfection on corners. Washington surrendered the top of the table to Gotham, but only for two days.

Katie Atkinson was the star of the week in the Chicago net, Maja Lardner was the hero for a desperate Racing Louisville side, and Cloe Lacasse continues her terrific season.

Several sides that needed wins in the worst way were rewarded for their efforts, and five of the week’s victors earned clean sheets. NWSL Week 14 was entertaining from start to finish.

Ullmark’s late tally gives Houston first win in five matches

Houston has been struggling mightily, as the Dash had won but a single match in their previous 12 prior to Bay FC’s visit. This one looked as though it would go down as another draw, until rookie Linda Ullmark stepped up to play hero in stoppage time. This match may have been short on goals, but certainly not on shots, chances, saves, or excitement. Just seven minutes in, Kennedy Fuller rattled the post for Bay. Following that, Houston began firing at will toward the Bay goal, but Jordan Silkowitz stopped everything sent her way. The half ended scoreless, with the home side controlling play.

When the teams came out of the locker room, Bay turned the match around, The visitors held more possession and had several excellent attacking plays. Jane Campbell was called on to repeat the performance her counterpart Silkowitz had put up in the first, and did so. Houston came agonizingly close to scoring in the 84th minute when Sarah Puntigam sent a long distance shot toward goal. The shot hit the right post, bounced straight across the line and bounced off of the left post, then was corralled by Silkowitz.

The match went into injury time, where five minutes were added on. Ullmark needed only 22 seconds. Avery Patterson brought the ball up and sent it over to Ullmark in the left side of the box. She cut to the middle, then sent her shot back toward the near post. The change caught Silkowitz leaning right, and Houston had a much-needed win. The Dash jumps past Bay in the standings, with both sides currently on the outside looking in for playoff contention.

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Doyle scores late to overcome Atkinson’s heroics as Orlando tops Chicago

While Orlando may have come away with the victory, the story of this match was Chicago keeper Katie Atkinson. She was, in a word, superhuman.

The first half of this match was a shooting gallery for the hosts, and Atkinson was a brick wall. The Pride sent eight shots her way in the first half alone, but not a single one got through. The best save of the night came on a penalty in the 42 minute. The play had actually occurred in the 36th minute, but was not called until a VAR review two minutes later. After review, Orlando was awarded the PK, and Marta stepped up to take it. She tried a slow approach, and Atkinson would have none of it. She confidently and easily went to her right to keep the match scoreless.

In the second half, the Orlando shots on target slowed down, and Chicago had the best chance to open the scoring. 65 minutes in, Jameese Joseph sent in a shot that headed straight for goal. Fortunately for the Pride and keeper Anna Morehouse, the ball solidly struck the crossbar and bounced harmlessly out. Orlando recorded their first shot of the half in the 86th minute, and then the important one in the 88th.

After a great run-up, Coriana Dyke sent a great ball through to a charging Julie Doyle. Unmarked, Doyle was able to get everything behind her shot, and she sent an absolute screamer top bin that not even Atkinson could get to. Atkinson’s heroics aside, Chicago has a serious offensive problem. They have scored only eight goals in 16 matches, and have been blanked 12 times.

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Kerr scores first in return to NWSL as Gotham draws Portland

With Australian and Chelsea legend Sam Kerr’s return to the NWSL earlier this month, fans were eager to see her filling the net once again. They were denied her first two matches, but not the third. The match between Gotham and Portland showcased two of the league’s stronger sides, and was full of excitement.

The fireworks started right away, though not in the way the home crowd wanted. In just the second minute, Guro Reiten walked the ball along the Portland endline, then delivered a wonderful cross into the box. Midge Purce struck it first time, and the ball was in the back of the net for the early Gotham lead. The Thorns equalized not long after. Pietra Tordin sent a long ball to Renee Lyles on the right side. She brought it down, did an amazing shake-and-bake on Purce to get free, then sent an expert chip over Ann-Katrin Berger. It was the first goal of Lyles’ professional career. Portland controlled the rest of the half, but neither side tallied again.

Early in the second half, the Thorns took the lead after a couple of fortuitous bounces. Sophia Wilson had the ball in the Gotham box, then laid back to Lyles. She could not cleanly control the ball, but it came directly to Jessie Fleming. Lyles got out of the way of Fleming’s shot, but it struck Purce on the way in. Berger had been tracking right, and the ball deflected left into the far corner.

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And then the legend returned to the scoresheet for the first time in her return to the NWSL. Just ten minutes after the Thorns took the lead, Gotham earned a corner. The ball came in, and Tierna Davidson headed toward goal, which was then sent further by Kerr. Portland’s Marie Müller blocked it, but it came right back to Kerr, and she hammered home. Ten minutes after that, Kerr looked to have an unobstructed breakaway on Mackenzie Arnold. Portland’s Jayden Perry pulled Kerr down by her shirt, and was immediately shown a red card. Despite being down to 10, the Thorns had the only good chance after that, a long shot from Morgan Weaver in her return after being out for nearly two years.

In other injury news, Gotham defender Emily Sonnett went down early with a left knee injury. She is being evaluated to determine the severity of the injury. With the point, Gotham temporarily moved back top of table, while Portland remains fifth.

Boston scores early, survives late red card against Kansas City

And the tremendous debut season for the league’s two newest teams continues. Boston is on a tear, going 3-1-1 in their last five. Meanwhile, Kansas City is going in the opposite direction, going 1-1-3 in their last five. The visiting Current had the game’s first big chance in just the second minute. Following a short corner, Haley Hopkins put a header squarely off the crossbar. The Legacy soon made the home fans happy after settling down. 18 minutes in, Boston earned a corner that Kansas City could not fully clear. The ball came back in to the box and fell to Aissata Traoré. Boston’s leading scorer quickly turned and fired past Marisa Jordan for the lead. The Legacy’s Casey Murphy absolutely robbed Croix Bethune just before the half to preserve the margin with the save of the match.

The second half saw Kansas City come out with more pressure, and an immediate chance that was blocked by Boston captain Bianca St. Georges. The Legacy should have gone up 2-0 midway through the half, but the home side did everything but finish. Nichelle Prince got behind the defense, around Jordan, and fed Traoré wide open in front of goal. Unfortunately for her, she opened her left foot just a hair too much and sent the ball wide. Boston had the only other big chance of the half, but Jorelyn Carabali’s shot went off the crossbar. Despite losing Ella Stevens due to a red card for violent conduct late in extra time, the Legacy earned yet another win. Kansas City is struggling of late, and is likely looking forward to facing bottom of table Racing Louisville at home in their next match.

Utah puts on master class in corners during win over North Carolina

And that is why you practice set pieces, kids. Utah struck three times from perfectly executed corners, and easily defeated the Courage on the road. The first one came just six minutes in. Nuria Rábano sent a corner in from the right flag all the way to the back post. Captain Kate Del Fava rose up unmarked, and easily headed home past Kailen Sheridan. Carolina pressed from there and had excellent chances, but could not beat Mandy McGlynn.

Ten minutes before half, Utah scored the second off of another corner. This time, Cloé Lacasse sent it in from the left flag. Carolina cleared, but right back to the Canadian international. She passed to Rábano, who quickly sent a ball into the box. Tatumn Milazzo raced in behind all other players and poked it by Sheridan. McGlynn made a huge save on Riley Jackson late in the half to preserve the 2-0 lead for the visitors.

The home side got back in the match early in the second half through a chaotic sequence. McGlynn tried to pass out from her box, but Shinomi Koyami stepped right into the lane to steal the ball. Shinomi drove right at McGlynn, but was brought down from behind by Ana Tejada. The three players all went down in a heap, and the ball came out directly to Evelyn Ijeh. The Swedish international calmly sent in past two Utah defenders and halved the lead. But, only for ten minutes.

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Lacasse sent in a short corner and then took an immediate return pass. She sent the it into the box, and Mina Tanaka sent a looping header over Sheridan that was a thing of beauty. Lacasse finished the scoring in extra time through her own determination. She charged into the box and was taken down by Ryan Williams. The referee pointed to the spot, and Lacasse calmly finished the job. Lacasse is having a career year, with ten goal involvements and an absolutely sublime two-way game. She should definitely be in the MVP and Best XI conversations. Utah moves to third in the table, while Carolina falls out of the eighth and final playoff spot.

Two quick goals in first spell victory for Seattle against San Diego

A Seattle side that saw a two-goal lead slip away in last week’s loss to Gotham was not about to let the same thing happen this time out. On the road again, Laura Harvey’s side went into Snapdragon Stadium and came home with three points. The visitors started early, just 17 minutes in. Ainsley McCammon sent a ball in to the box, and Maddie Mercado timed her run perfectly. She got up and sent a header back across goal that Sandra Paños had no chance at. The visitors struck again just three minutes later. McCammon assisted on this one as well after Sally Menti had sent a corner into the box. McCammon headed toward goal, and Jordan Bugg headed it further, looping it over Paños to double the lead. Wave’s Mel Barcenas tested Claudia Dickey twice late in the half, but the Reign keeper stood tall.

San Diego came out in the second half firing at Dickey’s goal. Indeed, the Reign seldom ventured onto the Wave side of the field. Maddie Dahlien’s early attempt was the only shot on target Seattle had in the second half, and was easily saved by Paños. Dickey meanwhile, was quite busy in her net, and held firm for the clean sheet. Seattle moves closer to a playoff spot, while San Diego is winless in their last three.

Washington holds off furious Denver attack to go top of table

In a match where the Summit were sending balls at the Spirit goal all night, Washington relied on their defense and patience to eventually pull this one out. While visiting Denver unleashed 17 shots at Sandy MacIver, only one was on target. Washington, meanwhile, put six on frame, keeping Abby Smith on her toes all match. Denver struck the crossbar early on, with Yazmeen Ryan’s rising shot glancing off. Washington used all of the field and long stretch passes to spread the Denver defense and get scoring chances. For the first half, neither side could solve the other’s keeper.

The second half had some good chances, and then the game’s only goal off of a wonderful play that began at the Washington defense. After stymying a Summit attack, the Spirit broke out from their own end. Three passes found Trinity Rodman on the left side. She sent a terrific pass into the middle for Sofia Cantore. The Italian international took her shot from just outside of the box, and the ball glanced off of Summit defender Kaleigh Kurtz. The ball went high into the far corner over Smith, and the home side had the opener. It would also turn out to be the closer, as Denver could not answer despite amazing efforts in extra time. Washington reclaims the table top, while Denver remains close to the last playoff spot.

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Racing Louisville gets much needed win over Angel City behind Lardner brace

Bottom of the table Louisville was desperate for a win, having earned three points just once in their last eight matches. Traveling out to Los Angeles to face an Angel City side on a three-match win streak, Racing chances seemed slim. But Maja Lardner took it upon herself and led her team to victory. Angel City started this match in control, having early chances that Jordyn Bloomer turned aside. Then, in the 24th minute, Lardner opened her NWSL account with her first professional goal. After Katie O’Kane’s shot was stopped by Angelina Anderson, the rebound squibbed out. Lardner was doing what attacking players should do and followed the play. She was the first to the ball and sent it home. Later in the half, Kayla Fischer put the ball in for Racing, but she was called offside.

In the second half, Lardner got her brace 10 minutes in. Fischer sent a ball in to the box that Angel City cleared quickly. Racing regrouped, and Fischer sent it in again. This time, Lardner rose highest and headed home to give the visitors a 2-0 lead. That lead held until late in the half, when Sveindís Jónsdóttir showed her speed. Sophia Mattice sent her a ball over the top, and the Icelandic speedster was first to it. She put the ball under Bloomer to halve the lead, but that was as close as Angel City would get. Louisville get their first win in seven matches, while Angel City falls to eighth in the table.

NWSL Week 14 results in full

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