Reign FC fans cast their vote on Twitter to select the Goal of the Year for the 2017 NWSL season. The four candidates included Jess Fishlock against Orlando on September 7th, Katie Johnson against Chicago on August 16th, Megan Rapinoe against Sky Blue FC on July 22nd, and Fishlock against Portland on May 6th.
With 43% of the vote, the winner is Fishlock’s first minute strike against Portland Thorns FC. This marks the first time Fishlock has won Goal of the Year for Reign FC.
Fishlock’s goal got Reign FC on the scoreboard almost immediately in their first meeting with rival Portland Thorns FC, the only meeting between the two teams at Providence Park this season. In the first minute of the match Fishlock won the ball outside the Thorns box, and after taking a touch, fired a shot into the far corner of the goal. The ball went past a diving goalkeeper Adrianna Franch to give Reign FC a crucial early lead.
The goal was Fishlock’s second of the season, and her fourth all-time against Thorns FC, good for second most in club history behind Rapinoe’s five. This season the midfielder scored seven goals, just one goal shy of her career best eight goals in 2015.
Last year’s Reign FC Goal of the Year was voted on by the players, and also came against Thorns FC. Rapinoe’s game-sealing goal in the final minute of stoppage time capped off a 3–1 win over Reign FC’s rivals.
Stay tuned tomorrow, as fans will have a chance to cast their vote for the Reign FC 2017 Save of the Year. Follow us on Twitter at @ReignFC.
