Whitney Church Named NWSL Player of the Week
Whitney Church of the Washington Spirit has been voted NWSL Player of the Week for her efforts in a 2-1 win versus Sky Blue FC. 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: Washington Spirit defender Whitney Church has received NWSL Player of the Week honors for Week 20 of the 2017 campaign. Church recorded one goal and had a game-saving block in stoppage time during a 2-1 victory over Sky Blue FC on Sunday.
Church’s equalizing goal in the 75th minute was the first of her NWSL career, helping snap the Spirit’s six-game winless streak on the road.
The defender also turned in a strong performance on the other side of the ball. According to Opta, she finished the game with seven interceptions, four clearances, three blocks, two tackles and gained possession 12 times.
Church came up with a key block in the closing moments of stoppage time against Sky Blue’s Kelley O’Hara, which gave Spirit goalkeeper DiDi Haracic enough time to make a second save. Their combined work won NWSL Save of the Week, as voted by fans of the league.
The win halted Sky Blue FC’s postseason hopes, but it was also just the second win on the road this season for the Spirit. The club’s only other win away from the Maryland SoccerPlex this campaign came at Sky Blue FC’s expense in August. Thanks to the efforts of Church and her side, the Spirit went 3-0-0 against Sky Blue this campaign.
Photo Credit: Meg Linehan/NWSL Media
