Photo by Mike Lawrence, ISI Photos.

Johnson Led the Sky Blue FC Attack with a Brace Against Utah Royals FC on Saturday

Tinton Falls, N.J. (August 21, 2018) – Sky Blue FC forward Katie Johnson has officially been voted the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Player of the Week by the NWSL Media Association for Week 21 of the 2018 NWSL season.

Johnson led the Sky Blue FC attack with a pair of goals against Utah Royals FC this past Saturday in an eventual 2-2 draw at Yurcak Field. Additionally, she was inches away from recording a hat trick after firing another shot off the crossbar in the 50th minute. Her second finish was just seconds away from becoming the game-winner in this contest, but a Utah goal in the 4th minute of second-half stoppage time led to the 2-2 final.

Sky Blue FC opened the scoring in the 14th minute on Saturday, finding success on a series that started with Madison Tiernan sending a feed upfield to Imani Dorsey on the left flank. Dorsey then pulled the ball back before delivering a pass to Raquel Rodriguez on top of the 18. Rodriguez quickly played Carli Lloyd before taking back possession and touching forward to Johnson, who slid into a strike that sped past Utah goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart and gave Sky Blue FC a 1-0 advantage.

Her second tally came in the 48th minute on a sequence that started on the back line when Domi Richardson powered a ball upfield to Johnson, who raced under it and turned towards the top of the 18. She initially looked to send a through-ball to an overlapping Dorsey, but it was deflected by a defender. Johnson left no doubt on her following touch, lofting a ball into the left upper 90 that gave her team a 2-0 lead.

Johnson registered a 66-minute shift on Saturday and finished the match with three shots. The NWSL Player of the Week acknowledgement for Johnson is the first of the 2018 campaign for a Sky Blue FC player. The award is selected each week of the regular season by the NWSL Media Association, a collection of writers who cover the league on a consistent basis.

Sky Blue FC is currently on the road for a four-game road stretch that gets underway on Wednesday night against Portland Thorns FC at Providence Park. The team returns home to Yurcak Field for its 2018 season finale on Saturday, September 8, hosting the Orlando Pride for a noon kickoff. Tickets for that game are available now online or by calling 888-SBFC-TIX (888-723-2849). The first 1,500 fans through the gates will receive a Carli Lloyd bobblehead, courtesy of Brielle Orthopedics.

For all of the latest news on Sky Blue FC, follow us on social media: @SkyBlueFC