Portland Thorns forward Midge Purce has been named the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Player of the Week for Week 19.

It is the first time that Purce has won the award.

Purce scored two goals against the Chicago Red Stars Sunday to lead the Thorns to a 3-0 win. She has now scored eight goals this season, which ranks in a tie for third in the NWSL. Purce scored her first goal of the game in the 24th minute when she headed in a rebound. She scored again in the 56th minute when she converted another rebound after Chicago goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher tipped a shot from Christine Sinclair off the crossbar.

The NWSL Player of the Week is selected each week of the regular season by the NWSL Media Association, a collection of writers covering the league on a consistent basis.

-- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com

503-853-3761 | @jamiebgoldberg

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