PORTLAND, Ore.– Portland Thorns FC forward Midge Purce was named the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Player of the Week by the NWSL Media Association for Week 19, it was announced today. It marks the first time Purce has been named Player of the Week and the third time a Portland player has been recognized this season.
Purce increased her season total to eight goals, which ranks tied for third in the NWSL this season, with her second career brace in a 3-0 win against the Chicago Red Stars on Aug. 25 at Providence Park. Notably, both of Purce’s braces this season have come against the Red Stars as she tallied two goals in a 3-0 win on June 2, 2019, at Providence Park.
After Christine Sinclair opened the scoring for Portland in the 12th minute, Purce doubled Thorns FC’s lead with her first goal of the match in the 24th minute. Tobin Heath served a cross from the left edge of the box to Hayley Raso making a run to the right post. Raso re-directed the ball back across the face of goal and Purce converted from close range with a header. In the 56th minute, Purce came running into the box for the finish from close range off the rebound after Chicago goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher tipped a shot from Sinclair off the crossbar.
The NWSL Player of the Week is selected each week of the regular season by the NWSL Media Association, a collection of writers covering the league on a consistent basis. For more information on the NWSL Media Association, follow them on Twitter.
Thorns FC return to action on Friday, Sept. 6, on the road against Utah Royals FC at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah. Beginning at 6:30 p.m. (Pacific), the match will be broadcast on Yahoo! Sports.
