Top 5 Goals: NWSL Challenge Cup and NCAA Soccer Week 4

This week of women’s soccer had plenty of enthralling matches, as usual. The Courage are back-to-back champions of the NWSL Challenge Cup. Plus, NCAA Soccer featured some amazing goals, especially at the mid-major level. We’ve got another great week of Top 5 Goals from the NWSL Challenge Cup and NCAA Soccer Week 4. Let’s get into it. 

5. Kerolin – North Carolina Courage

You can't give her an inch 📏

Kerolin becomes the first player to score in multiple Challenge Cup finals! pic.twitter.com/bEV0OzsUOc

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) September 9, 2023

Kerolin has proven to be an incredible find by the North Carolina Courage, and she might be the biggest reason why they let Debinha go in free agency. The Brazilian became the first player to score in multiple Challenge Cup Finals, and this goal was a stunner.

Kerolin has no business trying to score from such a tight angle, but she showed great recognition of the keepers’s positioning. Katie Lund broke a big rule for goalkeepers by cheating inside rather than staying on her near post. Kerolin is too good of a player and took full advantage of that with the power and accuracy to beat Lund.

The Courage might have a different roster, but their success remains the same. 

4. Manaka Matsukubo – North Carolina Courage

Gonna watch this more than a few times 🔁

Manaka Matsukubo's first NWSL goal is one to remember! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/qio1JL3Hy7

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) September 9, 2023

When your first goal in the NWSL is one that seals the Challenge Cup, it’s a huge deal. Manaka Matsukubo is a 19-year-old starlet who signed with the team on loan during the World Cup. The Courage’s ability to scout talent is elite, and they seemed to have found another potential star in Matsukubo.

The teenager took everyone by surprise when she took this shot on the half-volley rather than trying to control it. The strike was perfect as it flew over the outstretched hand of Katie Lund and into the net. Matsukubo would win the Challenge Cup Final MVP thanks to this goal, and the Courage added another trophy to their trophy case. 

3. Rajanah Reed – Washington State Cougars

👀👀👀#NCAASoccer x 🎥 PAC 12 Network / @WSUCougarSoccer
pic.twitter.com/HvLBgfG3CS

— NCAA Soccer (@NCAASoccer) September 10, 2023

The Washington State Cougars are one of the more underrated college programs in America. They always seem to have some high-level talent tucked away in Pullman, WA. There is no dispute as to whether this was a cross or shot. It was definitely a shot based on how Rajanah Reed lined it up. The winger put a nice move on her defender to create space and then ripped the shot straight into the far corner, taking everyone by surprise. That’s a pro-level move and strike from Reed, and it was the game-winner against Kansas to give her team a big win. 

2. Jersi Dadah – North Florida Osprey

𝐀𝐁𝐒𝐎𝐋𝐔𝐓𝐄 𝐑𝐎𝐂𝐊𝐄𝐓 😤🚀#NCAASoccer x 🎥 ESPN+ / @OspreyWSOC pic.twitter.com/W0Ykq21naO

— NCAA Soccer (@NCAASoccer) September 10, 2023

Jersi Dadah gave her team a huge lift against Troy, netting a brace. Her first goal was by far the better of the two. This long-range effort was spectacular. Her quick touch inside to beat the aggressive defender was nice, followed by another touch to set herself up for the shot. Before anyone else on Troy’s defense could react, Dadah had already ripped the curled effort into the top corner.

Not only did the shot bend, but it also had power. That’s practice paying off in the game; you can tell from how it was executed. A great goal for Jersi Dadah and the North Florida Osprey. 

1. Taylor Mentzer – UNC Greensboro Spartans

🤯

Sophomore Taylor Mentzer hit the nail on the head with this goal from 35 yards out making SportsCenter Top 10! 🤩 What a strike for your first-collegiate goal ‼️#NCAASoccer x #letsgoG pic.twitter.com/y2vrC4nvF6

— UNCG Women's Soccer (@UNCGWSoccer) September 8, 2023

If you make Sportscenter’s Top 10 plays, then it’s safe to say you’re making the Top 5 Goals list as well. Mentzer’s strike also takes the top spot on our list because of how far out it was and because she didn’t take a touch at all. Most players would like to take a touch from that far out, but Mentzer had the confidence and the technique to let it rip.

The midfielder put her foot through the ball and followed through, and it’s such a clean strike. The ball was destined to find the back of the net. It’s a beautiful long-distance goal. 

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