Sofia Huerta Named NWSL Player of the Week
The National Women’s Soccer League announced today that it has named OL Reign defender Sofia Huerta as the league’s Budweiser Player of the Week for her key contributions in the Reign’s match against Angel City FC. Huerta tallied one goal and one assist in the 3-2 comeback-win over Angel City FC, making her the team’s third player this season to have a goal and an assist in the same game.
Just 10 minutes after midfielder Jess Fishlock notched OL Reign’s first goal to cut ACFC’s lead 2-1, Huerta scored the equalizer for the Reign in the 64th minute with a laser shot from 20 yards out. The play began off a corner kick from midfielder Kim Little, which got cleared out of the box and placed in front of Huerta for her to tee up the shot with just one touch.
The match remained tied 2-2 until the 89th minute when Huerta dribbled the ball to the endline, creating enough space to serve a perfect cross into the box to forward Tobin Heath, who connected with the ball with a one-touch volley, sending the powerful shot right through the legs of Angel City goalkeeper DiDi Haračić. The goal secured three points for the Reign and the team’s first win on the road in 2022.
In addition to Huerta’s game-tying goal and game-winning assist, the 29-year-old finished the match with a team-leading nine crosses, 113 touches, and three aerial duels won.
Excluding matches missed due to international duty, Huerta has started in every game for the Reign this season and is tied for second in the league this season in assists (3).
Huerta has 34 goals and 28 assists all-time in NWSL regular season play, which makes her tied for 13th all-time in goals and just two assists away from tying the all-time assist record.
This is the second honor for Huerta in 2022, after being named Player of the Week on June 2. Huerta is one of two players to earn the award multiple times this season, joining San Diego Wave FC forward Alex Morgan. This is also the defender’s sixth time receiving this award, making her tied for the fourth most of any NWSL player with her teammate, Jess Fishlock.