Poliana of Houston Dash Named NWSL Player of the Week
Poliana of the Houston Dash has been named NWSL Player of the Week following her two assists in the club’s win over the Orlando Pride. 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: Houston Dash defender Poliana has received National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Player of the Week honors for Week 10 of the 2017 season.
Poliana, 26, did not disappoint in her fifth start of the campaign as she assisted on both tallies for the Dash in a 2-0 road victory over the Orlando Pride. Houston snapped a six-game losing streak – tied for the longest run without a victory in club history.
The Ituiutaba, Brazil, native assisted Carli Lloyd for the opening goal of the game late in first-half stoppage time as she powered forward from her right outside back position. Poliana’s run took her into the Orlando box before she pulled the ball back for Lloyd to smash into the top left corner of the net with a first-time shot from 22 yards. In the 62nd minute, Lloyd returned the favor when she found Poliana with a through ball that the defender sprinted onto before laying the ball across the face of the goal for Rachel Daly to strike home from 11 yards out.
Poliana finished the match with a team-high 72 touches, four tackles and completed 89.5 percent of her 38 total passes. The Brazilian international has been directly involved in three of the last four goals scored by Houston. She now has three goals and two assists on the season.
It is the first time Poliana has been honored as the NWSL Player of the Week and the seventh time a Houston Dash player has won the award.
The Dash will return to action Wednesday, June 28, at 9 p.m. ET against the Boston Breakers at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston.
Photo Credit: Trask Smith/ISI Photos
