Top 5 Goals: NWSL Regular Season Matchday 7

The NWSL regular season continues to heat up both literally and figuratively as the start of summer rages on. With USWNT callups announced and players expected to head out soon, every team needs to pick up as many points as possible while their star players are with their respective clubs. The sense of urgency is palpable, which has led to some amazing goals in the process. Let’s take a closer look at the best women’s soccer goals from the NWSL Matchday 7.

5. Alex Morgan – San Diego Wave

🚨 GOALKEEPER ASSIST 🚨@Kailen_Sheridan feeds @alexmorgan13, who just cannot stop scoring these days 🤩#WaveFC | #AllTheAction pic.twitter.com/58Nx9gzC58

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) June 12, 2022

Alex Morgan’s incredible season for San Diego is showing no signs of slowing down. Plus, who doesn’t love a goalkeeper assist? The keepers don’t get enough love for being able to use their feet but Kailen Sheridan deserves it for this long ball over the top.

Sheridan’s pass was inch-perfect as it dropped into the path of Alex Morgan, who still had a tough finish with the defender on her. Still a player of her caliber had no issues slotting the ball home into the far corner. This was a deadly counter-attack from San Diego and one that figures to be a problem for opposing defenses the rest of the season. 

4. Jessica Fishlock – OL Reign

🐉 @JessFishlock called it 🐉#BoldTogether | #AllTheAction pic.twitter.com/qp9jUiNS1w

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) June 12, 2022

This team goal was the perfect response to Alex Morgan’s goal for the OL Reign. Jess Fishlock was looking to end her goal drought and did so in style.

The triangle between Fishlock, Bethany Balcer, and Rose Lavelle allowed for four one-touch passes, including a gem of a chip from Rose Lavelle. Fishlock was able to run onto the ball, corral it down, and then hit it on the half volley into the roof the net. This is the kind of attacking play we need to see more of in the NWSL and that’s what players like Fishlock, Balcer, and Lavelle can do. 

3. Kerolin Nicoli – North Carolina Courage

What a strike! 🔥 @kerolinnicolii gets it started for @TheNCCourage early.

Watch live: https://t.co/LKmTZ5MSH6 | #CourageUnitesUs pic.twitter.com/91bejZqgB2

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) June 11, 2022

Kerolin Nicoli might be one of the best kept secrets in the league at this stage and one of the best signings the North Carolina Courage made. The Brazilian starlet is a threat to score every time she’s on the pitch as seen on this play.

Brianna Pinto played in Kerolin perfectly but the striker still had to put the finishing touches on the move. It’s always tough to try and execute a far post curler when everyone knows it’s coming. Yet, Kerolin made the perfect contact to the point where the ball swerved outside the post and back in.

No keeper is saving that one, a brilliant finish from Kerolin who is sure to add some more goals to her tally by the end of the season. 

2. Mallory Pugh – Chicago Red Stars

😱 @MalPugh ARE YOU SERIOUS 😱#MKOT | #AllTheAction pic.twitter.com/B6cqkXzlkY

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) June 12, 2022

Mallory Pugh has become a huge part of Chicago’s offense and is the main reason why they sit second in the table at this stage. Not only does Pugh keep scoring, but the quality of the goals is turning heads.

This was a similar strike to her goal that made last week’s list except it came from straight on without much of angle to bend the ball. That didn’t stop Pugh from going for it and the ball had enough curl and pace to beat the keeper, go off the bar and in.

Good luck to the rest of the NWSL, Mallory Pugh is looking unguardable at the moment. 

1. Gemma Bonner – Racing Louisville

What a Gem 💎@gembon23's first NWSL regular season goal was a smooth one pic.twitter.com/mTf7BNPIl2

— Racing Louisville FC (@RacingLouFC) June 12, 2022

This was an absolute gem from Gemma Bonner, and one of the things that makes soccer the beautiful game. All set pieces are drawn up plays designed to draw the defense out of position to allow for the offense to score. Yet things don’t always go according to plan. In this case the cross comes in behind Gemma Bonner with a ton of pace. The pace on the ball is what allows Bonner to improvise, she knows she just needs to redirect it and the keeper will have a tough time saving it.

Still no one could’ve predicted the cheeky backheel attempt from Bonner and it looked utterly gorgeous. It’s a special, improvised goal in the heat of the moment, and very deserving of this week’s top spot on our list. 

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