Huerta and Fishlock Named to NWSL Team of the Month

The National Women’s Soccer League has named OL Reign players Sofia Huerta and Jess Fishlock to the NWSL Team of the Month for October. Huerta and Fishlock were essential to OL Reign’s end of the season push to secure their second-place finish and first round bye in the playoffs.

Started in 2017, the Team of Month award recognizes the 11 players who have performed the best in a given month of the NWSL season. This month’s team features players from five of 10 teams in the league.

Huerta was named to the Team of the Month for her work as a right back. She started and played 90 minutes in all four of OL Reign’s October matches. Huerta shows up in every game, ready to lead OL Reign on offense and defense. She was especially great leading the attack from her position out wide, putting in quality crosses. She earned two assists in October and finished the regular as the league leader in assists, with a total of six. This is her fourth time being named to Team of the Month, but her second time doing so with OL Reign this season.

Fishlock started in all four of OL Reign’s October matches and played all but six minutes of those matches. She scored two goals in the month of October, both against Chicago in the Reign’s 3-2 comeback win. Fishlock is solid and dependable in the midfield for OL Reign and has been since their very first season. She ended the season with a total of five goals and four assists. This is Fishlock’s sixth time being named to Team of the Month and her third time this season. Fishlock also earned Save of the Week for her goal line heroics against the Washington Spirit on October 16.

NWSL Team of the Month in October:

GK – Aubrey Bledsoe (WAS): Bledsoe shined in the league’s final month of regular-season play, notching 17 saves throughout October and garnering a 4-0-1 record in the net.

D – Caprice Dydasco (NJNY): A mainstay on the Gotham backline and a strong contender for Defender of the Year, Dydasco contributed an assist in the squad’s 3-2 victory over the Orlando Pride. The defender’s five assists this season rank third in the league.

D – Sarah Gorden (CHI): Appearing in every minute of play during the regular season, the ironwoman Gorden was instrumental in the Red Stars’ undefeated record throughout the month and securing the team’s spot in the playoffs.

D – Sofia Huerta (RGN): The league assist leader, Huerta played in every minute of OL Reign’s four-game slate in October, dishing out a pair of assists in the Reign’s 3-2 win over Chicago to help clinch a first-round bye in the playoffs.

D – Sam Staab (WAS): Staab featured in every minute of the Spirit’s five contests in October and tallied the game-winning assist with a highlight-reel feed to Trinity Rodman in the team’s 1-0 win over the Houston Dash on October 31.

M – Jessica Fishlock (RGN): Fishlock made her presence known in the OL Reign midfield in October and shined in the Reign’s 3-2 win over Chicago, notching her first brace of the season.

M – Morgan Gautrat (CHI): Gautrat tallied an assist in the squad’s final regular-season matchup against the Orlando Pride.

M – Angela Salem (POR): Salem was heavily involved in the Thorns’ attack from the midfield throughout the month, helping the team close out the regular season before beginning their quest for a third NWSL Championship.

F – Ashley Hatch (WAS): The NWSL’s Golden Boot winner for the 2021 season, Hatch was sensational throughout the month, notching a trio of goals, including a brace in the Spirit’s 3-0 win against Racing Louisville FC, to solidify the league’s top scoring honor and lead her team into the playoffs.

F – Margaret Purce (NJNY): Earning her first Player of the Month honor of the 2021 season, Purce enjoyed her best month offensively, notching three goals in October and extending her scoring totals to nine tallies on the year, good for second in the league.

F – Trinity Rodman (WAS): A given on the Rookie of the Year shortlist, Rodman was very active in the final third for the Spirit this month, assisting on two goals in Washington’s 3-0 win over Racing and notching the lone goal of the Spirit’s final regular-season match against the Dash.