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NWSL Roundup: Goals galore in NWSL Week 2

By Jordan Small

PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 15: Portland Thorns forward Christine Sinclair (12) scores the second goal of the Portland Thorns 2-1 victory over the Orlando Pride on April 15, 2018 at Providence Park in Portland, OR. (Photo by Diego Diaz/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images).
PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 15: Portland Thorns forward Christine Sinclair (12) scores the second goal of the Portland Thorns 2-1 victory over the Orlando Pride on April 15, 2018 at Providence Park in Portland, OR. (Photo by Diego Diaz/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images). /
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There were hat-tricks, penalty kicks and SportsCenter-worthy goals in NWSL Week 2. If you’re a fan of goals, this was the weekend for you.

NWSL Week 2 brought us the first midweek game of the season and then four more over the weekend. It started with a beatdown of Orlando, took us to a thriller in Chicago and ended with a 1-1 draw in a late night west coast game. Let’s take a look back at the weekend that was in the NWSL.

North Carolina 5-0 Orlando Pride

The first midweek game of the year brought all the goals. At the half, it was 0-0, with both teams playing fairly well. But in the second half, North Carolina came out and proved why they’re once again the favorites to win it all. Behind 30 shots, 13 of which ended up on target, the Courage demolished the Pride. Crystal Dunn had two goals and an assist in the win for North Carolina.

Chicago Red Stars 4-4 Portland Thorns

It is going to be hard to top the game that was played on Saturday in Chicago. In one of the most entertaining games in league history, the Red Stars and Thorns played to a 4-4 draw in the second half of a double-header for the Chicago Fire and Red Stars. This one had a little bit of everything. There were two penalty kicks in the game, a hat-trick for Christine Sinclair and a brace for Yuki Nagasato. For a game that featured two of the best goalkeepers in the U.S. system right now, the defenses will definitely not want to watch this film again.

Sky Blue FC 0-1 Houston Dash

Sky Blue vs. Houston was almost the complete opposite of the Chicago-Portland game the cam before it. Carli Lloyd missed a penalty kick in the first half that could have given her Sky Blue team a much-needed lead, but instead they are still looking for their first goal of the year. Sofia Huerta put one home late to secure the victory for the Dash, the first under new head coach James Clarkson.

Next. The 10 best teams in MLS history. dark

Utah Royals 1-0 Washington Spirit

In their first game of the season, the Utah Royals came out firing. In front of 18,015 fans at Rio Tinto Stadium, the Royals opened the scoring in the 10th minute off a goal from Lo’eau LaBonta. While LaBonta was credited with the goal, the assist was really the thing to watch. Christen Press dispossessed a Washington player before weaving her way through the defense and crossing it into LaBonta in the box. Washington really struggled to make the most out of their last game with their USWNT players before the World Cup.

Reign FC 1-1 Orlando Pride

In the only Sunday game of the weekend, both decided to have a go at some pretty impressive goals. Orlando got things started in the sixth minute when Australian international Alanna Kennedy hit a free-kick home via bicycle kick. In the 21st minute, rookie Bethany Balcer scored her first career goal with a bended ball across the box. It was the first game for the Reign in their new home in Tacoma, where they drew 5,323 fans to Cheney Stadium.

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