Following a 0-0 draw with the Orlando Pride on Sunday, May 14th, NJ/NY Gotham FC goalkeeper Abby Smith earned the National Women’s Soccer League’s Player of the Week and Save of the Week honors. It was a late diving save by the keeper that kept a clean sheet for Gotham and ensured a point against a red-hot Pride team fresh off back-to-back wins.
Sunday’s match was the first home game for Gotham following a multi-game road trip. Gotham performed defensively, but struggled offensively, creating limited chances and barely troubling Orlando’s backline and goalkeeper. Part of Gotham’s attacking woes came from the Pride’s ability to lock down key players including Lynn Williams and Allie Long.
“We’ll take a point but it’s not what we came here to do today,” Long said after the match. “I think Orlando did a really good job of pressing us and denying us the way we wanted to play. [The Pride] made it hard for me to get on the ball and I give them credit, they did a really good job [of executing their game plan].”
“A clean sheet is important, which we got, and we got a point,” said Kristie Mewis after the match. “It’s still early in the season. I think today wasn’t our best game, and we just have to take it one day at a time.”
The clean sheet came courtesy of Abby Smith’s six saves to ensure the scoreless draw. In fact, Smith’s current form makes her the leader in the NWSL Golden Glove race.
“It’s honestly incredible,” said Taylor Smith of Abby Smith’s overall season performance and late-game save. “I think obviously we don’t want her to keep having to make those kind of saves, but I think it really got the team fired up.”
Hopefully Gotham can take that momentum into the final two-thirds of the season. With 13 points, the club currently sits in third place, level on points with second place OL Reign and just two points behind the Washington Spirit.
‘”It’s a performance we can build off of,” continued Taylor Smith after the game, who played both up top and as a defender during the match. “I think we’re a little but disappointed in our selves. We were hoping to get two consecutive wins at home, but I think the pieces are coming together and hopefully we can get a win next game.”
Gotham FC will hit the road again with two away games against the two team who sit above them on the table: OL Reign on May 21st and Washington Spirit on May 28th. These games will be crucial for league standings and Gotham is hoping to obtain maximum points from the matches.
The team’s next home game will be June 4th against the San Diego Wave FC. For more information, visit GothamFC.com.