The NWSL’s Challenge Cup provided fans with a number of electric goals as soccer made its triumphant return. With the tournament officially concluded, we’re looking back at our top 10 scores. 

 

10. GROOM HITS A BULLET

Shea Groom’s shot is the definition of a banger. Receiving the pass from Houston Dash teammate Katie Stengel, Groom absolutely hammers the ball into the upper 90 of the back post. Her exceptional goal helped Houston to tie the Utah Royals 3-3 in preliminary play.

 

9. SOMEONE GIVE LAVELLE A ROSE

Rose Lavelle drives forward, slipping in a dangerous ball to her teammate, Ashley Hatch, who had made a diagonal run into the box. Although Hatch isn’t able to finish, Lavelle follows up and roofs her shot, giving the Washington Spirit their first goal of the tournament in a 2-1 defeat to the Chicago Red Stars. Name one thing Lavelle can’t do. We dare you.

 

8. GET THE BALL TO LYNN WILLIAMS

Lynn Williams used the Challenge Cup to cement her reputation as one of the league’s premier strikers. Here, she resiliently runs through a slide tackle on the flank and continues to dribble straight to goal. Cutting in front of her defender, Williams finds the perfect angle for a shot, and finishes with nothing but class, leading Carolina to a 2-0 victory of Washington.

 

7. MEWIS’ GOAL IS PICTURE PERFECT

You couldn’t have scripted this goal better if you tried. After intercepting a risky ball played out wide, Houston’s Brianna Visalli feeds a slip ball into Shea Groom, who cleverly rolls it back to Kristie Mewis. The Dash midfielder hits a spectacularly driven ball into the side panel of the goal, helping the future tournament champions edge OL Regin 2-0 in group play.

 

6. WEAVER TELLS THE REIGNING CHAMPS TO PACK THEIR BAGS

Rookies aren’t supposed to make game-winning goals look easy, but no one seems to have told that to Portland’s Morgan Weaver. Cutting in from the back post, Weaver beats her defender and places the ball just outside the reach of Carolina’s goalkeeper, earning the Thorns a 1-0 victory over the two-time defending champs. Not a bad way to start your career.

 

5. STAAB EQUALIZES WITH A CHEEKY PLAY

We swear these kids get younger everyday. A backheel flick from the winner of the NWSL’s Future Legend award Ashley Sanchez sets her second-year teammate Sam Stabb up to head the ball over Portland’s defense into the back of the net. Staab’s first NWSL goal gave her team the extra point it needed to tie the Portland Thorns 1-1 versus their third game of the tournament. Watch out for this pair of players down the line.

 

4. KAWASUMI SHOOTS HER SHOT

Nahomi Kawasumi excels at playing a short-sided game, but she also can hit the long-ball when needed. She launches this rocket from 40 yards out, catching Houston Dash’s goalkeeper Jane Campbell off her line. Kawasumi’s goal doubled Sky Blue’s lead, securing a 2-0 against the eventual Challenge Cup champs Houston Dash

 

3. SHEA GROOM, YOU’RE CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF

Tournament MVP Rachel Daly hits a total bomb, finding her teammate Shea Groom back post. An unmarked Groom takes flight, defying gravity to head the ball home in Houston’s 2-0 win against Ol Reign. ‘Groom airlines is now boarding group A. We repeat, Groom airlines is now boarding Group A.’

 

2. LINDSEY HORAN. ENOUGH SAID.

Lindsey Horan is an absolute Queen. After teammate Meghan Klingenberg hits a dinker off a free-kick, Horan’s diving header just brushes the goalkeeper’s fingertips before finding the back of the net. Horan’s score helped the Thorns tie the Spirit 1-1, and was eventually voted the play of the tournament. We might politely disagree, but we’re certainly not surprised.

 

1. GROOM PUTS THE DAGGER IN

Houston’s Rachel Daly plays a flawlessly weighted through-ball ahead to her teammate Shea Groom, who pushes straight to goal, touching the ball past Alyssa Naeher before putting the game away. Groom’s stoppage-time goal doubled Houston’s lead against Chicago in the Challenge Cup final, solidifying H-town’s victory and giving the Dash their first major title.

Though goals were hard to come by, the NWSL Challenge Cup continued to produce inspiring soccer throughout the quarterfinals. Here are the top 5 plays from the first round of knockout play.

 

5. WATT DICES UP THE DEFENSE

The Chicago Red Stars’ Kealia Watt cuts up not one, not two, but three defenders in their own box. (Even our ankles are hurting after watching this play.) Watt did everything right, but couldn’t quite finish. Nevertheless, she later nailed her penalty kick, assisting her team in defeating OL Reign 4-3 in PKs after a scoreless draw. Expect Sky Blue to keep their eyes on the dynamic striker during their semifinal clash.

 

4. NAEHER PULLS OUT ALL THE STOPS

Somebody should have told Reign they were facing a World Cup champ. Here, Chicago’s Alyssa Naeher effortlessly dives across the goalmouth, pushing away Jess Fishlock’s hard-hitting shot. Naeher then characteristically brushes off her remarkable save and immediately starts giving directions to her teammates for the corner. That’s championship mentality.

 

3. WEAVER SHOCKS THE FAVORITES WITH CLINICAL FINISH

Portland Thorns’ rookie Morgan Weaver is already playing like a vet. Here, she calmly collects Rocky Rodríguez’s diagonal ball and places it in the back of the net. With Weaver cashing in, the Thorn’s upset the number one seed North Carolina and are now on their way to a semifinal bout with Houston.

 

2. WANT GOALS? GO SOMEWHERE ELSE, SAYS SHERIDAN

Sky Blue FC’s Kailen Sheridan currently leads the tournament with 20 saves. Yup, 20. Sheridan played a substantial role in the quarterfinals, boosting Sky Blue to the semifinals as the team knocked off the Washington Spirit 4-3 in penalties. Here, Sheridan flexes her sixth sense as she deflects Ashley Sanchez’s header to keep the score sheet clean. That’s a game-winning, fingertip save.

 

1. ECKERSTROM PUTS AN END TO CAROLINA’S REIGN

This is just one of eight jaw-dropping saves Britt Eckerstrom made in her tournament debut. Announcer Mike Watts described the Portland Thorns’ keeper’s effort as “one of the great goalkeeping performances in league history,” and we agree. Here, Eckerstrom attacks Debinha’s shot, diving to push the ball safely to the side.

To take down a giant, you need heroic performances from unexpected players. Eckerstrom did just that, and her performance may have been the highlight of the tournament so far. She kept a clean slate, and in doing so, helped dethrone the reigning 2x NWSL champs while securing Portland its first win of the tournament and, more importantly, a spot in the semifinals.

The NWSL Challenge Cup is officially heading to the knockout stage. Before the quarterfinals begin this Friday, take a look at the Top 10 plays of the opening round.

 

10. WE WANT WHATEVER LYNN WILLIAMS IS EATING

We’re not sure if the defenders were standing still or if Williams is just that fast. Even after getting tripped up on the right flank at half field, Williams relentlessly pushes onto goal, cutting across her defender and finishing the ball front post with spectacular poise and composure. Coach Andonovski, are you taking notes?

 

9. CASEY SHORT HITS THE BUZZER BEATER

Short may be a defender, but she knows how to get forward and find the back of the net. McCaskill drops a bomb into the box and Short does the rest, heading it home to give Chicago a 1-0 lead in the 85th minute. The Red Stars would hold on to win their first game of the tournament against Utah.

 

8. SHERIDAN ONLY HAS ONE MODE: BEAST MODE

Kailen Sheridan is an absolute animal. Here, the Sky Blue goalkeeper blocks a rip from point-blank range on a breakaway in order to preserve a shutout against OL Reign. If Sheridan was our keeper, we might get a little too comfortable having her back there.

 

7. WARNING: HIGH VOLUME OF TIKI-TAKA INBOUND

Plays like these remind us why it’s called the beautiful game. A quick slip ball in from the flank and an outside of the foot flick by Groom sets Kristie Mewis up to perfectly knock the ball home. We could watch this play on repeat. Forever.

 

6. DUNN GETS IT DONE

Crystal Dunn is known as one of the most versatile players in all of soccer. Typically positioned as a left-back, Dunn has recently stepped into a new role as an attacking central midfielder, earning her first goal of the tournament off a diagonal ball from Williams. We’re secretly convinced Dunn could step in goal and still be a star.

5. MEET OUR NEW SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, AUBREY BLEDSOE

You can get as close as you want to the goal before you shoot, but frankly, it doesn’t matter, because the Washington Spirits’ goalkeeper is an absolute brick wall. Bledsoe makes an incredible reactionary save against the Chicago Red Stars here, blocking the shot with just her left fist. Bledsoe’s heroics helped her team pick up up their first win of the tournament.

 

4. THREE WORDS: THE. GREAT. HORAN.

Coach Andonovskis’ notes: ‘Horan is a total stud.’ The Portland Thorns’ Meghan Klingenberg chips a dinker into the box, setting up Horan, who scores a powerful diving header. Her extra effort gave Portland an advantage over Washington Spirit that resulted in a 1:1 tie for the clubs. For Horan, it’s not a matter of ‘if,’ but ‘when.’ #facts

 

3. KAWASUMI’S HAIL MARY

Remember that epic goal Carli Lloyd hit in the Women’s World Cup final game in 2015, catching the Japanese goalkeeper off her line? Well, Nahomi Kawasumi, a Sky Blue FC forward and member of Japan’s national team, said ‘watch this’ against the Houston Dash. Kawasumi picks her head up, sees Jane Campbell far out of her goal, and cleverly chips the ball into the back of the net, helping her team to a 2-0 win.

 

2. NOT ALL HEROES WEAR CAPES. SOME WEAR LAUREN BARNES’ JERSEY

Defenders don’t always get enough credit, but when they do, they certainly deserve it. Barnes does a full 180 here, shifting from her mark to pick up an open opposing forward in the box. Her perfectly timed slide tackle blocks Kawasumi’s rocket shot, preserving OL Reign’s 0-0 draw with Sky Blue FC.

 

1. IT’S A BIRD, IT’S A PLANE, IT’S SHEA GROOM

Groom took flight on this play, heading the ball back post off a brilliant cross delivered from teammate Rachel Daly. Groom’s goal doubled Houston’s lead en route to a 2-0 win against OL Reign. Meanwhile, we’re still crunching the numbers in trying to calculate just how Groom was able to stay up for so long.

5. MEWIS STARTS THE FOURTH OFF WITH A BANG(ER)

Houston Dash’s Shea Groom gets played a slip ball from the flank, which she then deals out to Mewis who hammers home an absolute banger, giving her team the extra edge in their 2-0 win against OL Reign. This was Mewis’ first goal of the season, on a play that almost looked just a little too easy.

 

4. BELLA BIXBY GIVES HER FANS AN EXTRA FIREWORK SHOW

Washington Spirit’s Ashley Hatch takes a line-drive shot to the front post, but the Portland Thorns’ rookie keeper Bixby makes a full-extension dive to deny a should-have-been goal. Bixby’s composure in goal helped the Thorns secure a 1-1 draw against the Spirit.

 

3. SANCHEZ AND STAAB’S COMBINATION IS ONE IN A MILLION

Sorry Portland, but there was no way you could have stopped this combination from ending up in the back of the net. Sanchez uses her back heel to flick on a corner ball to her teammate Staab, who heads the ball into the goal. It’s a goal that’s equal parts beautiful and absurd, and it drew the Spirit even in their 1-1 draw.

 

2. RED, WHITE, AND THE GREAT HORAN

Meghan Klingenberg chips a beautifully weighted ball over the top, finding her teammate, Horan, who lays out to head the ball into the back of the net. You’re not supposed to be knocking in headers from this far out. Lesson: don’t lose sight of Horan… ever.

 

1.  “WHAT EVEN IS GRAVITY?” ASKS SHEA GROOM

Houston Dash’s Rachel Daly, hits a bomb from way outside to find her wide open teammate, Groom, inside the box. Groom takes flight and crushes the ball into the back of the net, helping Houston run away with a 2-0 win over OL Reign. With flights like this one, Groom will be dropping a new airline soon.

The first week of the NWSL Challenge Cup is officially in the books. And while the action has been good across the board, these are the best plays we saw in the first six games.

 

5. VERÓNICA BOQUETES’ LASER FREE KICK

Even a six person wall couldn’t stop Bouquet from tucking away this mind-blowing free kick, which helped the Utah Royals erase a 2-goal deficit and eventually tie the Houston Dash. What an absolute banger. Free kicks are not supposed to look this easy.

 

4. ROSE LAVELLE PICKS UP A REBOUND AND BURIES IT HOME

The season is just getting started, and so is Lavelle. Lavelle sets her teammate up on a platter, picks up the rebound, and roofs her shot to give the Washington Spirit the early lead against the Red Stars in their opening 2-1 win. Name one thing Rose Lavelle can’t do, we dare you.

 

3. NOTHING’S GETTING BY KAILEN SHERIDAN

Sheridan read the forward like a book, as she reached full extension and punched away this shot from just inside the box to preserve Sky Blue’s draw with OL Reign. I think we might have found our next Secretary of Defense.

 

2. LYNN WILLIAMS ISN’T STOPPING FOR ANYONE

Williams demonstrates her relentlessness as she withstands a ruthless slide tackle and immediately hops up, smoking her defender down the line. Using her lighting speed, she takes off to goal where she finishes with pure class and composure. Williams went on to score a brace in North Carolina’s 2-0 win over Washington.

 

1. LAUREN BARNES FLEXES HER IMPECCABLE TIMING

Barnes’ puts in work for the full 90, cutting across the box to make a phenomenal slide tackle save on a shot from point-blank range. Too bad the forward didn’t realize Barnes is a wall of steel. Her extra effort helped OL Reign secure an opening draw with Sky Blue.

The Challenge Cup resumes this weekend. Games are available on CBS All Access and via Twitch for international viewers:

  • 7/4: Utah Royals v Sky Blue, 12:30pm EST

  • 7/4: Houston Dash v OL Reign, 10:00pm EST

  • 7/5: North Carolina Courage v Chicago Red Stars, 12:30pm EST

  • 7/5: Portland Thorns v Washington Spirit, 10:00pm EST