Washington Spirit forward Francisca Ordega was named NWSL Player of the Week by the NWSL Media Association after posting an electric performance in the Spirit’s game on Saturday. Ordega scored twice and factored into the other two Spirit goals to drive the Spirit to the team’s first win of the 2017 NWSL season.
Ordega dealt with a nagging hamstring injury to open this season, but started in the Spirit’s past two games. Down several attackers due to injuries, the Spirit had struggled to create goals but Ordega exploded on Saturday and wrecked havoc on Sky Blue’s backline in the Spirit’s 4-3 win against the visiting New Jersey side.
Ordega scored two goals on Saturday night. Her insightful pass to Havana Solaun led to Solaun’s first goal for the Spirit and she pressured Sky Blue into conceding an own goal.
Ordega’s combination of speed and on-the-ball technical skills in addition to her sheer unpredictability devastated Sky Blue’s defense, which was already young and lacked organization with Christie Pearce sidelined due to a concussion.
This Saturday the Spirit go on the road to face the Seattle Reign at 4pm ET.
