Houston Dash forward Rachel Daly was voted the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Player of the Week by the NWSL Media Association for Week 1 of the 2016 NWSL season.
Daly, 24, had a goal and an assist in her professional debut to help the Dash earn a 3-1 victory Saturday over the Chicago Red Stars at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston. It was the team’s first win against Chicago in franchise history.
The Harrogate, England native tied the game at 1-1 with her first goal in the 22nd minute when she seized upon a defensive miscue with a first-time curling effort from a difficult angle that she snuck past Red Stars goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher and inside the near post.
The No. 6 selection in the first round of the 2016 NWSL College Draft then set up Houston midfielder Carli Lloyd for the game-winning goal in the 51st minute with a pinpoint cross that found the U.S. international co-captain at the top of the six-yard box.
The St. John’s University product played all 90 minutes of her first NWSL game and finished with three shots (one on goal). She was also involved in the build up to Houston’s third goal, scored by fellow rookie Janine Beckie.
Daly is the third Dash player to be voted NWSL Player of the Week and first since goalkeeper Bianca Henninger earned the honor in Week 7 of the 2015 season.
The Houston Dash will return to action Saturday, April 23 at 6:30 p.m. CT against the Orlando Pride at the Orlando Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla.
The NWSL Player of the Week is selected each week of the regular season by the NWSL Media Association, a collection of press that cover the league on a consistent basis. For more information on the NWSL Media Association, follow them on Twitter.
