Top 5 Goals: NWSL Matchday 20, NCAA, Barclays Women’s Championship, and Liga F

While the NWSL is approaching its conclusion with some high stakes in the balance, European leagues began this weekend. The major leagues returning are the Barclays Women’s Super League, Frauen Bundesliga, Liga F, and D1 Arkema. The WoSo calendar is officially full of overlap from numerous leagues, so there’s no shortage of games for the rest of the year. As a result, there were many goals to choose from this week. Here are the Top 5 Goals from the NWSL Matchday 20, NCAA Soccer Week 7, Barclays Women’s Championship, and Liga F.

5. Freya Gregory – Reading FC

What a strike from @FreyaGregory11 👀#BarclaysWC @ReadingFCWomen pic.twitter.com/10mNexIdWS

— Barclays Women’s Championship (@BarclaysWC) October 2, 2023

Freya Gregory is a future star with Aston Villa but is on loan with Reading FC in the Women’s Championship. The lefty is getting important experience to prepare her for an eventual move back to the Super League.

On this goal, the midfielder showed she’s a cut above some other players in the Championship with this strike. The angle for her to shoot from the left side of the box was minimal. She had to catch it perfectly to find the net. The ball flew into the far corner like a laser. The keeper dove, but she had no chance.

4. Erin Flurey – Syracuse Orange

From outside the box ➡️ the upper 90#NCAASoccer x 🎥 ACCN / @CuseWSOC pic.twitter.com/kpxqR33EiN

— NCAA Soccer (@NCAASoccer) October 1, 2023

This is a ridiculous goal from Erin Flurey. It was an audacious attempt, to say the least. There are multiple defenders in the area, including one in front of her, looking to block the shot. Somehow, Flurey managed to time the bounce of the ball with her strike and then guided the ball into the top corner. The awareness to know where she is on the pitch and then to take a chance to see the keeper is off her line is incredible.

The result is a jaw-dropping goal for Erin Flurey, especially against a top-ten team in Clemson.

3. Laia Ballesté – Sporting Huelva

Just when you thought it was all over, Laia Ballesté scores for Huelva and what a goal it is🔥🤩#LigaF pic.twitter.com/COqOM2cPQ6

— ata football (@atafball) October 1, 2023

Sporting Huelva took on mighty Barcelona in their first league match. No one gave them a chance to do anything, but Laia Ballesté gave them something to cheer about at the end of the match. The cross was perfect to find her wide open on the back post, but the finish was even better.

Ballesté struck the ball that must have gone 15 to 20 feet in the air on the volley without taking a touch. The coordination and technique are sublime, and the accuracy had to be spot on to beat the keeper on her near post like that. Huelva made it look easy, but it was anything but that. What a goal.

2. Kylie Olson – Utah State Aggies

Things you love to wake up to 😍#NCAASoccer x 🎥 MWN / @USUsoccer
pic.twitter.com/mTWpmr2vwL

— NCAA Soccer (@NCAASoccer) September 29, 2023

Whenever Utah State is at home, they seem to create some magical moments. Earlier this season, they pulled off a stunning upset over BYU, who was No. 1 in the country at the time. This time, the Aggies scored a game-winner with less than 30 seconds to go. More often than not, the time runs out with 30 seconds left in open play. A lot of the buzzer-beating game-winners have come from set pieces in college soccer, but not this one.

Kylie Olson understood the situation and saw the opportunity. Her teammate laid it off for her, and the ball sat up for her nicely. Olson was able to run onto the ball, and the curl she put on it allowed the ball to swerve away from the outstretched arm of the goalkeeper. Utah State might not make the NCAA Tournament, but they’ve definitely had a season to remember.

1. Michelle Alozie – Houston Dash

Make it ✌️ for @alozieee and @HoustonDash! pic.twitter.com/gWegXEX0AL

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) October 2, 2023

Houston hasn’t been scoring all season, but in their last two games, they’ve got three goals, with two coming from Michelle Alozie. Everything about this goal is beautiful. Maria Sanchez shows how highly skilled she is with a 30-yard left-footed pass with the outside of her boot. That ball curls around the defender and lands right in the path of Alozie. It does not get better than that.

Gotham’s keeper should not have come off her line and trusted her defenders, but Alozie still had a lot to do to get the chip right. The touch has to be perfect. Hit it too hard, and it goes wide or over the bar. Hit it too softly, and the Gotham defenders get back in time to clear it.

Michelle Alozie had an amazing World Cup and is carrying that forward in the NWSL with Houston. Houston is firmly in the playoff conversation thanks to her, with two games to go.

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