In the 57th minute, Jenna Nighswonger crossed the ball to
Esther González at the far post. The forward volleyed it back across the goal
for Williams, who headed in her record-setting goal and gave Gotham the lead.
Williams surpassed Sam Kerr’s record across all
competitions.
The Red Stars (5-4-1) equalized in the 74th minute when
Penelope Hocking pounced on a loose ball off a free kick, scoring for the third
game in a row.
Ella Stevens headed in a 90th-minute corner kick to help
Gotham (4-2-3) extend their unbeaten streak to five games.
Rose Lavelle, who missed the first four matches with a leg
injury, started for the first time since signing with Gotham in the offseason
and played 61 minutes.
PRIDE 3, REIGN 2
Barbra Banda scored two goals as the Orlando Pride defeated
the Seattle Reign 3-2 at Lumen Field, putting them at the top of the league to
close out the weekend.
The Pride (7-0-3) remain undefeated and have won seven
straight games, tying an NWSL record set by the Reign in 2014. The Pride and
the Kansas City Current are the lone two undefeated teams in the league this
season.
Emily Sams opened the scoring for the Pride in the 9th
minute, scoring her first professional goal from the top of the box.
Banda headed in Adriana’s cross 10 minutes later, doubling
Orlando’s lead.
Angharad James-Turner’s shot was deflected into the upper
right corner just before the halftime whistle, putting Seattle on the board.
Just a few minutes into the second half, Bethany Balcer
equalized for the Reign (2-7-1). Jess Fishlock sent a pass over the top, which
Balcer ran onto and finished into the left corner for her fourth goal of the
year.
A Pride corner kick in the 58th minute bounced once in the
box before Banda volleyed in her second goal of the match. Banda now has six
goals and two assists in just five NWSL starts.
Balcer received a second yellow card in the 83rd
minute and will miss the Reign’s next game. -AP