Mallory Pugh is on a tear, notching four goals through four regular-season appearances with Chicago.
The Red Stars striker logged her latest goal in the club’s 1-0 win over OL Reign on Saturday. The victory extended her side’s unbeaten streak to four games.
Pugh tested OL Reign goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce throughout the matchup, firing four shots on target against the NWSL’s save-percentage leader.
The star keeper denied Pugh in the 30th minute with a clutch kick save before the Chicago forward finally found the back of the net in the 47th minute.
After receiving the ball inside the box, Pugh calmly cut the ball back, beating her defender before striking a confident finish past Tullis-Joyce.
This is just unreal, @MalPugh 😱@chicagoredstars | #MKOT pic.twitter.com/YWEBidBqaf— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) June 4, 2022
This is just unreal, @MalPugh 😱@chicagoredstars | #MKOT pic.twitter.com/YWEBidBqaf
Pugh appears to be in top form as she returns to a full 90 minutes with the Red Stars after missing several matches early in the season due to a concussion.
The 24-year-old has been lighting up the field since missing out on the Tokyo Olympics last July, making a case for her place on Vlatko Andonovski’s front line ahead of the USWNT’s World Cup qualifying matches in July.
Pugh is pushing to catch Alex Morgan for the league lead in goals. Pugh tied Rachel Daly and Nichelle Prince with four on the season with her strike, but she still trails Morgan by two as of Saturday afternoon.
Pugh, however, holds the top spot in goals per 90, with 1.46 to Alex Morgan’s 1.15. She also leads in shots on target per 90 with 4.4.
Pugh and the Red Stars will look to maintain their unbeaten streak when they face the Washington Spirit on Wednesday.