Jess Fishlock Named NWSL Player of the Week
Jess Fishlock of Seattle Reign FC has been named NWSL Player of the Week following her club’s dominant victory in Week 2. The NWSL Player of the Week is selected each week of the regular season by the NWSL Media Association, a collection of writers that cover the league on a consistent basis.
NWSL Soccer News: Seattle Reign FC midfielder Jess Fishlock has received National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Player of the Week honors by the NWSL Media Association for Week 2 of the 2017 season.
Fishlock, 30, scored the opening goal and assisted the second for the Reign in a 5-1 victory over the Houston Dash on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
“It was a great match,” said Fishlock. “As a team we played well and this enabled me to be balanced on the defending and attacking end. But I am at my best when the team allows me to do that. I don’t necessarily agree with individual awards because nobody can play their part without everybody else. When everyone plays and does her role correctly, people can excel.
When we play well collectively then individuals can really show their worth.”
The Cardiff, Wales native opened the scoring in the 18th minute as Megan Rapinoe played a ball into the box from the left flank that deflected off forward Beverley Yanez. Midfielder Christine Nairn collected the ball and fed Fishlock who struck a low shot inside the far post for her first goal of the season.
Fishlock featured in all 90 minutes in the win for Seattle. She tallied 71 touches and 47 total passes as well as four tackles and three shots on target.
A three-time NWSL Best XI selection, Fishlock recently became the first player – men’s or women’s – to earn 100 caps for Wales and marked the occasion with a goal to help lead her country to a 3-1 win versus Northern Ireland on April 5th.
Fishlock is the second consecutive member of the Reign to be voted NWSL Player of the Week after goalkeeper Haley Kopmeyer claimed the award for her performance in Week 1. The Wales international has now been honored three times as the NWSL Player of the Week. It is the 15th time a member of the Reign has won the award.
The Seattle Reign will return to action Saturday, April 29th, at 7 p.m. ET against the Boston Breakers at Jordan Field in Boston.
“We know our away form has to get better,” said Fishlock. “It wasn’t very good last year and it costed us our playoff spot. We have to focus when we are away from home and it starts this week against Boston.”
#NWSL Week 2 Player of the Week is @JessFishlock of @ReignFC! pic.twitter.com/r8vgCa0UKX
— NWSL (@NWSL) April 25, 2017
