Top 5 Goals: NWSL Regular Season Matchday 8

Matchday 8 of the NWSL went absolutely crazy from a goal-scoring perspective. Twenty-five goals were tallied in just six games over three days. This gave us plenty of options when putting our Top 5 Goals list together. There’s a little bit of everything this week: great long-distance strikes, individual efforts, and great technique on display. Let’s take a look at our best women’s soccer goals from the NWSL Regular Season, Matchday 8.

5. Nichelle Prince – Houston Dash

‼️ CHAOS ‼️@nichelleprince7 scores @HoustonDash's 3rd goal in 6 minutes! pic.twitter.com/76yW4a6ZEN

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) June 19, 2022

After getting thoroughly trounced by the Portland Thorns 4-0 in their previous match, Houston came out with a vengeance against North Carolina. Nichelle Prince and Elizabeth Eddy managed to score three times in four minutes just after halftime.

Prince’s goal would be the difference since the Courage made a comeback but still lost by a goal, 4-3. This is a trademark Nichelle Prince goal; she’s running at defenders with plenty of space to run into. Prince does well to dip her shoulder and get the ball onto her right foot in order to curl it into the far corner. That’s what hours and hours of practice look like–Prince made that curler look easy. 

4. Hina Sugita – Portland Thorns

SUGITA-MANIA! What a FINISH!#PORvORL@hina_0_8_2 | @ThornsFC pic.twitter.com/UYXxP8HdD8

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) June 19, 2022

The signing of Janine Beckie for Portland was one move not talked about enough around the league. Beckie provides depth and quality to their midfield, and her quality was on full display. Watching the flight of the cross go into the box is beautiful enough, but then Hina Sugita did well to leave her marker behind and smash the ball into the top corner on the volley. It’s a beautiful goal for Portland, who took full advantage of a depleted Orlando team. 

3. Cece Kizer – Kansas City Current

THAT HAPPENED!!!!!! @thekccurrent —NEED THAT ON REPEATTTTTT 🫠@cecekizer | #TealRising pic.twitter.com/zebz5CXapB

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) June 19, 2022

Let’s just say it didn’t take long for Cece Kizer to make an impact with her new team. Kizer received the ball with a defender right on her and, at first, couldn’t get free. Then, all Kizer needed was an inch of daylight to find the opening for a shot. Still, the striker had much to do with the angle from which she took the shot. It might’ve caught the keeper off guard because Kizer took the shot with her left foot, and it had just enough accuracy and power to get past Alyssa Naeher. 

2. Sophia Smith – Portland Thorns

🤯WHAT IS HAPPENING IN PORTLAND?🤯@sophsssmith gets a brace, in this landslide match.#BAONPDX | @ThornsFC pic.twitter.com/EuIWdWLySV

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) June 19, 2022

Another week, another Sophia Smith brace. The young star is hot on the heels of Alex Morgan for the Golden Boot as the league’s top scorer and is showing no signs of slowing down. The finish from Smith is sublime. Once she picks her head up just outside the 18-yard-box, she knows she can stick that in the top left corner it’s all about the execution.

Someone on Orlando’s defense could have stepped up to apply pressure and make it more difficult to shoot, but Smith had all the time she needed. The ball flew into the top corner in no time at all. The keeper had no chance. 

1. Denise O’Sullivan – North Carolina Courage

GOODNESS @OSullivanDenise 🚀#CourageUnitesUs | @theNCCourage pic.twitter.com/o1V3jJm1kE

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) June 19, 2022

The Courage haven’t had the best start to their season, but one of the players they’ve always been able to count on regardless is Denise O’Sullivan. The Irish international fired home this absolute screamer from long distance to take the top spot on this week’s list.

The ball popped up to her after a scuffed clearance, and Sullivan took it down off the chest, let it bounce once, and then put her foot through it on the half-volley. Notice how her knee is over the ball, which allows the ball to take the trajectory it does by striking it so cleanly. The ball swerved and dipped over the keeper’s outstretched arm, and landed perfectly in the net. That is just textbook on how to strike a soccer ball. Just revisit this highlight reel in case anyone needs a review for future reference. 

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