After Week 3, the Washington Spirit still sit at the top of the table with 9 points; the Houston Dash are scratching their heads after being shut out during a 20-shot perfomance; and the Portland Thorns were arguably outplayed by the Boston Breakers but managed to steal a win anyway. Individually, Crystal Dunn showed us that she can be an assist machine; Kim Little can be brilliant in any position she plays; Ashlyn Harris is making a case for inclusion on the U.S. Olympic squad; and Christen Press willed the Red Stars to victory. See below for my Best XI, Watch List for Week 4, and other tid bits from Week 3.

Best XI

GK: Ashlyn Harris, Orlando Pride. The USWNT netminder kept the Orlando Pride in the game on Sunday as she repeatedly made spectacular, mind-boggling saves on the Red Stars’ Christen Press and co. at Toyota Park.

DEF: Arin Gilliland, Chicago Red Stars. The second-year defender dueled all night with USWNT forward Alex Morgan and nullified the Pride’s other offensive threats with her speed and excellent defensive positioning; she also wasn’t afraid to try her luck offensively and push into the Pride’s defensive third.

DEF: Katie Naughton, Chicago Red Stars. The Notre Dame rookie only had a minute of NWSL experience under her belt before being inserted into the lineup and tasked with shutting down Alex Morgan and the Orlando Pride, filling in admirably for injured CRS and USWNT regular Julie Johnston at center back.

DEF: Emily Sonnett, Portland Thorns. The USWNT and University of Virginia rookie confidently led the Thorns’ backline to a shutout in Boston in the absence of center back partner and team leader Kat Williamson, who had surgery last week to rehab an injury suffered against FC Kansas City.

DEF: Poliana, Houston Dash. Starred for the Dash against Sky Blue FC as she was active both defensively and in the attack; she nearly had the game-winner late in the match, but it was blocked on the goal line by Sky Blue defender Erin Simon.

MF: Tobin Heath, Portland Thorns. Continued to star in NWSL play this season, as she suavely served up Dagny Brynjarsdóttir for the Thorns’ game-winning goal over the Boston Breakers on Sunday.

MF: Danielle Colaprico, Chicago Red Stars. Dictated tempo and speed of play for the Red Stars from the defensive mid position, and serviced Christen Press with a beautiful free kick from midfield for Chicago’s go-ahead goal over the Orlando Pride.

MF: Kim Little, Seattle Reign. Was all over the field on Sunday—literally, she played the no. 10, defensive mid, left back, and center back positions at various points throughout the night—and scored her team’s game-winner over NWSL title game rivals FC Kansas City.

MF: Keelin Winters, Seattle Reign. Was solid as usual in the middle of the park without partner Jess Fishlock, who is out injured; she did the dirty work to stifle FC Kansas City’s offensive threats on Sunday night and helped lead her team defensively to victory.

FWD: Christen Press, Chicago Red Stars. Started the game dangerous as a CAM but shifted to striker later on, where she scored the goal to lead her team to victory over the Orlando Pride.

FWD: Diana Matheson, Washington Spirit. Was cool as a cucumber as she buried 2 goals against the Western New York Flash—one of them from the penalty spot—and has 3 goals on the season.

First off the bench: Crystal Dunn, Washington Spirit. Dished out her third assist of the season on Diana Matheson’s game-winning goal against the Flash and continues to prove she can play the provider role for the league’s first-place squad.

6 Extra Touches

Best Performance: Kim Little, Seattle Reign. It’s early yet, but she continues to run a strong NWSL MVP campaign through 3 weeks after displaying a versatile performance Sunday night and scoring her team’s only goal against FC Kansas City.

Best Goal: Christen Press (Chicago Red Stars) corralled a gorgeous dead ball service, taken at midfield by Danielle Colaprico, inside the Pride’s 6-yard box and blasted the game winner past the Orlando Pride’s Ashlyn Harris.

Best Assist: Tobin Heath’s (Portland Thorns) perfect free kick from outside the 18 to Dagny Brynjarsdóttir’s head for the go-ahead goal versus the Boston Breakers.

Best Defensive Play: Laura Alleway’s (Orlando Pride) back-tracking and block on Chicago Red Stars’ Jen Hoy, who split the Orlando defense with a run from midfield and was otherwise in alone on Pride keeper Ashlyn Harris.

Best Save: Caroline Stanley’s (Sky Blue FC) point-blank, reaction-save denial of the Houston Dash’s Rachel Daly to keep the game 0-0 and help her team steal a point at BBVA Compass Stadium this weekend.

Best Team: Washington Spirit. Sitting at the top of the table, the Spirit mustered the offense to strike 3 times against the Western New York Flash, and the backline notched a shutout along the way despite conceding a second-half penalty kick.

Weekly Watch List

Carson Pickett, DEF, Seattle Reign. The rookie finally looked comfortable and starred as a left back in her squad’s Sunday win over FC Kansas City, as she was sound defensively and a threat offensively throughout the night. If she can keep making positive contributions this season she will certainly put herself in the mix for a USWNT call up post-Olympics, but first she will face a test against high-energy attackers and a rowdy home crowd environment against Orlando, in Orlando, this Sunday.

The rookie finally looked comfortable and starred as a left back in her squad’s Sunday win over FC Kansas City, as she was sound defensively and a threat offensively throughout the night. If she can keep making positive contributions this season she will certainly put herself in the mix for a USWNT call up post-Olympics, but first she will face a test against high-energy attackers and a rowdy home crowd environment against Orlando, in Orlando, this Sunday. Erika Tymrak, MF, FC Kansas City. We’re all anxiously waiting for the 2013 NWSL Rookie of the Year version of Erika Tymrak to reemerge, but FC Kansas City might not be able to wait much longer—they need offense and everyone knows that the USWNT-capped Tymrak can (historically) produce. After a quiet first 3 games this season, it will be interesting to see if Tymrak steps up and helps get her team its first win this week at home versus Houston.

We’re all anxiously waiting for the 2013 NWSL Rookie of the Year version of Erika Tymrak to reemerge, but FC Kansas City might not be able to wait much longer—they need offense and everyone knows that the USWNT-capped Tymrak can (historically) produce. After a quiet first 3 games this season, it will be interesting to see if Tymrak steps up and helps get her team its first win this week at home versus Houston. Megan Oyster and Shelina Zadorsky, DEF, Washington Spirit. Next Saturday the Portland Thorns pay a trip the Plex, and the Spirit backline is certain to be challenged by the offensive firepower the Thorns boast in their artillery. It will be fun to watch the young center back pairing of second-year NWSL starter Oyster and Canadian international Zadorsky take up the task of handling the likes of Thorns striker Nadia Nadim, who has to be hungrier than ever for a goal after going scoreless through 3 games.

90+3

Does Randy Waldrum have a conundrum in Houston? The Dash boss undeniably has a wealth of phenomenal talent at his disposal: on the forward line he has to choose from prospective USWNTer Kealia Ohai, prospective English international Rachel Daly, former U-20 USWNT world champion Chioma Ubogagu, and likely Canadian Olympian Janine Beckie to lead his 3-front attack. So far, Waldrum has tried to handle the situation by using a player rotation. In the first game against the Red Stars, Waldrum went with an Ohai-Daly-Beckie attack in front of Carli Lloyd, Andressa, and Amber Brooks—resulting in a 3-1 victory. In an away loss at Orlando, Waldrum surprisingly started the two rookies Daly and Beckie up top with Lloyd, in front of Morgan Brian, Andressa, and Brooks; Ohai and Ubogagu came on as substitutes. This past weekend, back at home, Waldrum started Ohai, Daly, and Ubogagu in front of Andressa, Cami Privett, and Caity Heap; he subbed off Ohai around the 65-minute mark for Janine Beckie—much to Ohai’s displeasure, as evidenced by the live stream and the fact that she was arguably still playing well creating chances. Waldrum must find a way to keep open lines of communications with his players and repeatedly reassure their confidence if he wants to keep using a player rotation up front. Not to mention the pressure for production is mounting—the Dash’s forwards have not scored in the past 2 games, and the squad has dropped to 1-1-1 on the season. We can only guess as to who Waldrum selects to start on Saturday in Kansas City, but I’m thinking he may give Daly a rest and go with Ohai-Ubogagu-Beckie up top in front of Brian (if healthy), Andressa, and Brooks.

The Dash boss undeniably has a wealth of phenomenal talent at his disposal: on the forward line he has to choose from prospective USWNTer Kealia Ohai, prospective English international Rachel Daly, former U-20 USWNT world champion Chioma Ubogagu, and likely Canadian Olympian Janine Beckie to lead his 3-front attack. So far, Waldrum has tried to handle the situation by using a player rotation. In the first game against the Red Stars, Waldrum went with an Ohai-Daly-Beckie attack in front of Carli Lloyd, Andressa, and Amber Brooks—resulting in a 3-1 victory. In an away loss at Orlando, Waldrum surprisingly started the two rookies Daly and Beckie up top with Lloyd, in front of Morgan Brian, Andressa, and Brooks; Ohai and Ubogagu came on as substitutes. This past weekend, back at home, Waldrum started Ohai, Daly, and Ubogagu in front of Andressa, Cami Privett, and Caity Heap; he subbed off Ohai around the 65-minute mark for Janine Beckie—much to Ohai’s displeasure, as evidenced by the live stream and the fact that she was arguably still playing well creating chances. Waldrum must find a way to keep open lines of communications with his players and repeatedly reassure their confidence if he wants to keep using a player rotation up front. Not to mention the pressure for production is mounting—the Dash’s forwards have not scored in the past 2 games, and the squad has dropped to 1-1-1 on the season. We can only guess as to who Waldrum selects to start on Saturday in Kansas City, but I’m thinking he may give Daly a rest and go with Ohai-Ubogagu-Beckie up top in front of Brian (if healthy), Andressa, and Brooks. The Boston Breakers’ offensive woes continue to overshadow their defensive improvements. The Breakers have yet to score a goal this season through 3 games, much to the dismay of players like former USWNT regular Kristie Mewis, recent USWNT debutant Stephanie McCaffrey, and Australian international Kyah Simon. Mewis in particular has the skills and lethal left-footed shot to step up and score some goals, and considering the way she has been playing lately, it may be only a matter of time before she finds the back of the net. Notwithstanding the Breakers’ bad breaks on the offensive end, they have been defending their own third admirably. Abby Smith was fantastic in goal against the Portland Thorns Sunday, giving head coach Matt Beard plenty to think about when he selects his XI next week; USWNT player Whitney Engen and former FSU star Kassey Kallman were equally solid leading the backline despite a lapse in concentration on the Thorns’ goal; and McCall Zerboni impressed as a defensive mid throughout the night. The Breakers undoubtedly look much improved over last season’s squad, but will be desperately looking for goals and some points this weekend to avoid failing to 0-4 on the season.

The Breakers have yet to score a goal this season through 3 games, much to the dismay of players like former USWNT regular Kristie Mewis, recent USWNT debutant Stephanie McCaffrey, and Australian international Kyah Simon. Mewis in particular has the skills and lethal left-footed shot to step up and score some goals, and considering the way she has been playing lately, it may be only a matter of time before she finds the back of the net. Notwithstanding the Breakers’ bad breaks on the offensive end, they have been defending their own third admirably. Abby Smith was fantastic in goal against the Portland Thorns Sunday, giving head coach Matt Beard plenty to think about when he selects his XI next week; USWNT player Whitney Engen and former FSU star Kassey Kallman were equally solid leading the backline despite a lapse in concentration on the Thorns’ goal; and McCall Zerboni impressed as a defensive mid throughout the night. The Breakers undoubtedly look much improved over last season’s squad, but will be desperately looking for goals and some points this weekend to avoid failing to 0-4 on the season. But there’s a lack of goals all around this season. The scoring plague isn’t only limited to Boston or the Dash–just ask any of the other teams in the league besides the Spirit, who were the only team to record more than 1 goal over the weekend. I would argue that the lower instances of goals are correlated with increased goalkeeper talent this year—or as Twitter joked about extensively, the defensive prowess of the goal post. But while the goals haven’t been as frequent as we’re used to in the NWSL, the goal quality happens to be insane. As teams begin to gel more and the season progresses, we will likely see higher score lines and more players living up to their offensive potential.

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