PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Thorns FC forward Alex Morgan was named the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Player of the Week by the media for Week 11 of the 2014 NWSL season, it was announced today.
Morgan, 24, tallied her first brace for Thorns FC and added an assist on forward Christine Sinclair’s goal in the fifth minute, helping Portland earn a 6-1 victory Saturday against the Washington Spirit at Maureen Hendricks Field at Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds, Md.
Morgan became the third Thorns FC player in club history to register a brace along with current teammates, forwards Jessica McDonald and Christine Sinclair. Morgan finished the game with eight shots (5 on goal).
Today’s announcement marks the second consecutive week a Thorns FC player was named the NWSL Player of the Week as Verónica Boquete received the honor for Week 10.
Morgan scored her first goal of the season for Thorns FC in the 11th minute as she doubled Portland’s lead, heading the ball into the back of the net following a series of shots off a free kick. Morgan tallied her second goal of the match in the 71st minute, intercepting a clearance by Washington Spirit goalkeeper Chantel Jones and chipping it in from outside the box.
Thorns FC opened the scoring in the fifth minute; Morgan collected the ball off a turnover and found Sinclair in the box as she turned to curl a shot into the left corner.
Morgan missed the first nine games of the regular season due to an ankle injury, making her first start and appearance for Thorns FC in 2014 on June 7 against Western New York.
Thorns FC plays host to Sky Blue FC on Wednesday, June 25, at Providence Park; kickoff is scheduled for 7pm PT (TICKETS, TV: CSNNW).
The NWSL Player of the Week is selected each week of the regular season by a selection of journalists that cover the league on a consistent basis.
