Washington Spirit forward Mallory Pugh Voted NWSL Player of the Week
Washington Spirit forward Mallory Pugh was voted the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Player of the Week for Week 2 of the 2018 NWSL season.
Pugh, 19, scored the game-winning goal and was instrumental in creating the second to lead the Spirit to a 2-0 home victory, their first of the season, over the Orlando Pride at the Maryland SoccerPlex.
The Highlands Ranch, Colo. native ran onto a header from Ashley Hatch near midfield and proceeded to drive at the Pride defense. At the top of the box, Pugh cut to the outside creating an angle for herself and calmly slotted it past Orlando goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris for a 1-0 advantage in the 80th minute.
That set the stage for Pugh to return the favor in the 88th minute as her centering pass from the end line forced a defensive miscue by the Pride and the ball fell fortuitously to the feet of Hatch, who smashed a first-time shot into the back of the net.
It is the first time Pugh has been honored as the NWSL Player of the Week and the 13th time a Washington Spirit player has won the award.
The Washington Spirit will return to action against the North Carolina Courage on Saturday, April 14 at 7 p.m. ET at Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds, Md.
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