PORTLAND, Ore.– Portland Thorns FC goalkeeper Adrianna Franch was named the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Player of the Week by the NWSL Media Association for Week 20, it was announced today.
Franch posted her second clean sheet of the season, while tallying six saves, helping Portland to earn a 2-0 win on the road against the Orlando Pride on Aug. 11. It is the second time Franch has been honored as the NWSL Player of the Week, as she also received the honor during Week 14.
The Salina, Kan., native made several critical stops in Thorns FC’s win, including a diving stop on a free-kick attempt from Marta near the right edge of the box in the 19th minute. In the second half, Franch reacted quickly to make a point-blank save on a shot taken by Marta that deflected off Emily Van Egmond in the 63rd minute, while in the 89th minute, she made a leaping save to tip a curling shot by Marta over 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 at home on Saturday, Aug. 18, at Providence Park, playing host to the Chicago Red Stars. The Aug. 18 match kicks off 7:30 p.m. (Pacific) and features a national television broadcast on ESPNEWS.
