Soccer News: First Player In League History To Receive Honor In Consecutive Weeks
Chicago Red Stars forward Sofia Huerta made history today by winning the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Player of the Week award for her performance in this past Friday’s 2-2 draw with home side Houston Dash.
Huerta bagged her second consecutive brace in the match to help her side battle back from a 2-0 deficit and earn a crucial point on the road. The Idaho native is the first back-to-back recipient of the NWSL Player of the Week award since the inception of the league in 2013.
In the absence of star striker Christen Press, rookie Huerta stepped up once more to power her team’s attack, first burying a Jen Hoy through ball around the hour mark and then leveling the score nine minutes from full time with an excellent individual effort. A waist-high ball by Arin Gilliland was laid off by Cara Walls and Huerta cut to her left courtesy of some skillful footwork before blasting a low drive past the hand of outstretched goalkeeper Bianca Henninger to make it 2-2.
The 22-year-old is the fourth Red Star to be named NWSL Player of the Week, as team captain Lori Chalupny was honored after Week 10 of the 2013 season, forward Hoy won the voting for Week 19 of the same year, and striker Press received the award after Week 2 of the current campaign.
The Chicago Red Stars look to remain unbeaten when they travel to take on defending champions FC Kansas City on Saturday, May 23. The club’s next home match is on June 20 against Washington Spirit.
