NWSL Week 23: Hopkins hat-trick spurs Kansas City, Seattle jumps back into playoff picture

NWSL Week 23: Hopkins hat-trick spurs Kansas City, Seattle jumps back into playoff picture Jess Fishlock is ageless, and Angel City just keeps rising up the table. Ashley Sanchez equaled the league’s season scoring record, Gotham extends the lead at the top, and there is a new challenger in second. Denver’s playoff hopes took a hard hit, while three other sides were officially eliminated from the playoff chase. Portland earned a draw late, while suddenly reeling North Carolina find themselves outside of the playoff bracket. San Diego and Utah moved up the table with victories, and Orlando keeps their slim playoff hopes alive. NWSL Week 23 had some outstanding individual efforts as well as tremendous team performances. San Diego moves second in table, eliminates Racing Louisville The Wave are rolling right now, with their latest victory pushing them past Washington for second in the table. Racing’s loss officially eliminates them from the playoff chase, and into an off-season that will face serious questions about the future of the club. San Diego was the stronger of the sides throughout the match, as well as the more accurate. Of their 20 shots on the day, nine were on frame. Louisville, meanwhile, only placed one on target, and that was easily handled by Sandra Paños. Racing did put the ball in the net early, but unfortunately for the home side, Kayla Fischer had taken the lead ball in an offside position. Halfway through the frame, San Diego got the only goal they would need. The Wave cleared their own end and sent forward. Lia Godfrey had the ball at midfield and spotted Gia Corley making her run. Godfrey’s pass was perfect, and Corley took it in full stride. She cut to the center, went around Jordyn Bloomer, and tucked it in. The visitors looked to double their lead just before half. Trinity Byars made a great run across the box and unleashed an amazing shot with eyes for the side netting. Only a superhuman effort from Bloomer kept it out, and the sides went in on the 1-0 line. Embed from Getty Images San Diego wasted no time in doubling their lead in the second half. Just three minutes in, Corley mad another run in the box off a great pass from Kenza Dali. Racing defender Mirann Gacioch blocked Corley’s shot, but the rebound fell right to Ludmila. The Brazilian international struck it first time and rippled the twine. The Wave had all of the chances for the rest of the match, and took the road win comfortably. The win is San Diego’s fifth in their last six matches, equaling Angel City for the most wins over that span. Must be something about that California air. Racing, as stated, is eliminated from playoff contention. The side has many big issues to resolve , and the situation in Louisville is decidedly dire. Gotham maintains lead by controlling match with Chicago Gotham is trying to lock down a first ever NWSL Shield, while Chicago is merely playing for pride at this point. The difference in the sides was apparent on this day, as Gotham dominated from whistle to whistle. The home Bats started off early. Just nine minutes in, Sam Kerr came down the right side and fed the ball through the six yard box. It went through three Chicago defenders, and Jaedyn Shaw was there to tap it in. Five minutes later, Jaelin Howell nearly doubled, but her header struck the underside of the bar, then bounced directly off the goal line without going completely over. Chicago cleared, but they were on their back foot all night. The Stars had zero attempts on target for the half, and were fortunate to be down just one. Embed from Getty Images Chicago’s fortune ran out quickly in the second half. Just five minutes into the frame, Gotham doubled through Kerr. Guro Reiten had the ball on the left wing, and she sent in a great cross. Kerr was unmarked in front of goal, and her header to the far side left Alyssa Naeher no chance. Gotham finished their scoring in the 65th minute, with Shaw getting her brace. Rose Lavelle had the ball in the box and laid off to a late running Shaw. She went far post past Naeher to put the match on ice. Chicago would claw one back with their only shot on target of the night. With three minutes left in regular time, Simone Charley made a great run into the Gotham box, and the ball came Micayla Johnson. She pushed it forward to Tessa Dellarose, who tapped in point blank. The final whistle came uneventfully, and Gotham goes six points clear at the top. Chicago’s defensive difficulties have been thoroughly discussed this season, and must be their top priority for next season. Fishlock nets brace as Seattle blanks Boston Jess Fishlock was signed by the Seattle Reign in 2013, the very first year of the NWSL’s existence. She has remained with Seattle through today, the only player still in the league from that inaugural year. And as shown this weekend, she remains top quality, leading her side to a victory over debutantes Boston. Fishlock struck first in the 23rd minute. Following a collision at midfield, the ball came out to the Welsh superstar. She headed toward the Boston goal, then let fly from about 30 yards out. Her shot went left side past an outstretched Casey Murphy, and the home side had the lead. Murphy would make a sparkling save on Sofia Huerta’s header just before half, keeping her side close. Embed from Getty Images Fishlock got her brace, and the last goal of the match, halfway through the second. Maddie Dahlien came up the left side and laid off to Fishlock. She took one touch, then fired from just outside the box. Her shot went top bins, and Seattle had the win. The Reign move back into the last playoff spot, bumping North Carolina. The loss eliminates Boston from playoff possibility, but the Legacy have had an excellent and productive debut season. Look for great things from them next season. Hopkins’ hat-trick sends Kansas City past Denver Haley Hopkins has a hat-trick, helping herald a heart full of headiness for a hoary harbinger of happiness who happens to harp on hearing a heavenly, heaping, helping of alliteration. Visiting Denver scored early in this one, and then the match turned into the Haley Hopkins show. The Current striker earned a natural hat trick, becoming only the second player in league history to record the feat on three successive shots. The Summit are still in the playoff hunt, and this match started out perfectly for them. 13 minutes in, the Summit broke into the Kansas City box. The ball came loose to Lindsey Heaps, and she poked it by Lorena for the early lead. Things looked even better when Abby Smith denied the Current’s Debinha on a PK in the 35th minute. And then, the Haley Hopkins show started. Michelle Cooper sent the ball on a cross, and with her teammates crashing the box, Hopkins got her toe on it for her first. The teams went into the half all square, but Hopkins was just warming up. Two minutes into the second, the ball came into the Denver half. A miscommunication between Smith and her defense led to Hopkins in possession all alone on the right with no one between her and goal. She calmly sent her long-range shot into the back of the net. Embed from Getty Images Hopkins would get her hat trick ten minutes later. Following a sustained attack from Heaps, Kansas City cleared out long to a streaking Temwa Chawinga. She broke down the left side with Hopkins running down the middle. The Denver defenders went to Chawinga, leaving Hopkins alone in front. Chawinga’s pass was on a plate, and Hopkins had her hat-trick. It must be said that it is a treat to watch Chawinga run down the pitch. She is so fast and powerful in stride, and defenses cannot handle her. The Current added a fourth 15 minutes later. Vanessa DiBernardo sent a lovely backheel pass to Chawinga in the box. Her shot deflected off a Summit defender and past Smith to finish the scoring. The win puts Kansas City seventh in the table, with their playoff hopes firmly in their own hands. Denver meanwhile, could ill afford this loss and are now five points out of the last spot. They have their work cut out for them. Angel City stays hot, upends Washington on late Niehues tally Don’t look now, but Angel City is motoring up the table, and currently the hottest team in the league. Out of the playoffs just three weeks ago, the side now sits sixth, and is eyeing one of the top four spots for home pitch advantage in the first round. Washington has had a hiccup the last few weeks, and saw the visitors stun them with a last gasp Maiara Niehues goal. On a rainy night in Washington, the two sides matched each other all night. Possession, shots, and chances were nearly identical, with either side having their run of play. The Spirit had their best chances in the first half, and Angel City keeper Angelina Anderson stopped Washington attempts sent her way. Embed from Getty Images Angel City flipped the script in the second, as they were more the aggressors in the second frame. The visitors tested Sandy MacIver twice, and she easily gobbled both of those up. Time ticked off and just when it looked as the match was going to finish as it started, a late hero appeared for Angel City. In the 88th minute, Carina Lageyre fed Niehues just outside the box. She turned, looked up, and placed the ball in an absolutely perfect spot, far side and too high for MacIver to get to. The win extends Angel City’s unbeaten run to six matches, and puts them in firm control of their playoff position. With the loss, Washington saw San Diego leapfrog them due to the Wave’s win over Racing. That battle for second and third will be quite entertaining. Portland snatches point against Houston with late equalizer The Thorns dominated the pitch and the stat line in this match, firing shots at Houston’s Jane Campbell with impunity. However, the only stat that matters in the end is goals scored, and Portland needed a late one to salvage a draw. Portland had the first chances of the game, but it was Houston who opened up the scoring just 10 minutes in. Houston brought the ball out with three quick one-touch passes, and it ended up on the foot of Kate Faasse. She looked up and saw Kat Rader making her run. Faasse’s pass was exquisite, and Rader’s finish the same. The Dash rookie now has 10 goals on the season, and is a front-runner for Rookie of the Year. Embed from Getty Images From there, Portland opened up the firing range. They sent shot after shot toward goal, and controlled the pitch for the rest of the half. Unfortunately for the home fans, the Thorns were unable to find the back of the net. The sides went in to the half with the visitors holding the edge. In the second half, the pitch was tipped completely toward the Houston net. The Dash only crossed midfield with the ball three times, and Portland pressed hard for the equalizer. Campbell made two big saves early in the half to maintain the clean sheet, but the Portland offense could not be denied. With but five minutes left, the Thorns earned the draw an unlikely source. Thorn attackers Pietra Tordin and Sophia Wilson were passing back and forth at the top of the box, and Wilson’s ball came open on the right side. No one saw defender Marie Müller came flying in from her backline, and she blasted it past Campbell for the equalizer. Müller’s second goal of the season was an important one, as it keeps Portland in the thick of home-field advantage seeding. Houston maintains a slight hope of playoffs with the draw, but may very well sorely miss those lost two points. Orlando keeps hopes up for post-season with win against Bay Both Orlando and Bay needed a win to keep their playoff hopes alive. On this day, it was the Pride who prevailed, keeping their dreams alive while eliminating Bay from the playoff race. The Bay faithful had hardly sat down when the visiting Pride struck. Just 80 seconds into the match, Solai Washington had the ball in the Bay box. She laid back to Haley McCutcheon, who sent a perfect looping shot into the far corner. For their part, Bay did not let this early setback take the wind out of their sails. Nine minutes after the goal, the home side equalized. After Orlando had cleared a corner to midfield, Bay came right back. Claire Hutton sent a cross to the far post, and Rachel Kundananji came racing in to get her head on it. Her perfect strike knotted the score, and Bay kept up the pressure after that, forcing Cosette Morché into several huge saves. The side went into the half all square, and it was the visiting Pride who came out of the tunnel in the second to take control of the match. McCutcheon waited a whole 100 seconds before scoring in this half. The Pride earned a quick corner, and Angelina sent it into the box. McCutcheon rose highest and put her header past Jordan Silkowitz to restore Orlando’s lead. Bay sent several shots at Morché for the rest of the half, but her defense did it’s job and the shots all came from distance and straight on. Embed from Getty Images Orlando held off Bay, and then at the last of stoppage time, finished the affair. After clearing their end, the Pride got the ball out to Barbra Banda at the center stripe. She passed over to Jackie Ovalle, who walked it all the way to the top of the box. She blasted past Silkowitz, and the ref blew the final whistle. The win keeps Orlando’s slim playoff hopes afloat, as they still need to make up seven points in their last four matches. Bay is eliminated with the loss, and will look to the off-season to address their needs. Utah overcomes North Carolina, Sanchez ties scoring record Utah has made an amazing turnaround from last year, being one of the league’s top sides all season. In this match, they were able to overcome the league’s scoring menace and put a severe dent in North Carolina’s playoff aspirations. Just five minutes in, the menace nearly stung the Royals. Ashely Sanchez stole a clearing pass outside the Utah box and just missed top bins. Utah shook off that early attempt and answered with one of their own in 17th minute. The Royals’ Miyabi sent a delicious cross into the box, and Cloé Lacasse finished it with a perfect header into the far netting. Lacasse is having a banner year for the Royals with 18 goal contributions, and a strong defensive complement. Look for her in the League Best XI at the end of the season. Embed from Getty Images North Carolina answered twenty minutes later from the spot. Gianna Paul made a run down the right side and into the box where Utah defender Nuria Rábano took her down. The referee called the foul straightaway, and Sanchez stepped up for the Courage. She put her shot bottom corner past Mandy McGlynn to tie the match, and also tie Kansas City’s Temwa Chawinga’s record for single season goals scored with 20. North Carolina had a few more good chances in the half, but no further ones got by McGlynn. Sanchez nearly got her brace early on in the second, and had it not been for a remarkable save from McGlynn, the Courage would have taken the lead. As it turned out, it would be the Royals who would score shortly thereafter, and would claim the three points. In the 65th minute, Utah came out from their own end. Mina Tanaka sent a sublime pass between two Courage defenders and onto the run of Cece Delzer. She took one touch and then fired past Kailen Sheridan for the winner. Utah sits fourth in the table, with San Diego only three points ahead in second. North Carolina is ninth, one point off of Seattle. The last few playoff spots will likely come down to the last match of the season, and we are here for it. NWSL Week 23 results in full Racing Louisville 0-2 San Diego Wave Gotham FC 3-1 Chicago Stars Seattle Reign 2-0 Boston Legacy Kansas City Current 4-1 Denver Summit Washington Spirit 0-1 Angel City FC Portland Thorns 1-1 Houston Dash Bay FC 1-3 Orlando Pride Utah Royals 2-1 North Carolina Courage Related articles from Her Football Hub: Barclays WSL2 results: Newcastle stay top, Ipswich and Sunderland win as Sheffield United hit four ÖFB-Frauen Bundesliga results: SKN St. Pölten go top as Sturm Graz falter, LASK grab deserved win Suwen Süper Ligi: Galatasaray win, Fenerbahçe triumph in Europe as Beşiktaş fixture is called off