Week 6 in the NWSL didn't generate many goals, but the ones that did find the back of the net came just in the nick of time. Let's take a look at the results from around the league this past week.
FC Kansas City 0-0 Western New York Flash
This Thursday night match set the tone for the rest of the weekend, as the teams combined for 11 total shots on the night. Each side had a few decent scoring opportunities off of set pieces, but the climax of the evening came in the 82nd minute as FCKC forward Shea Groom slid into the box going after a through ball and came in contact with Flash goalkeeper Chantel Jones. Jones, who subbed in for starting keeper Sabrina D'Angelo in the 15th minute, took umbrage and gave Groom a shove but only earned a yellow card, saving Western New York the trouble of handing the gloves to a field player had she been ejected.
Houston Dash 2-2 Chicago Red Stars
Houston and Chicago combined to double the total scoring in every other meeting across the league. The Dash took a first half lead on a Rachael Axon penalty kick after Kealia Ohai was downed in the box by Arin Gililand, but Chicago responded in the second half with wave after wave of pressure. Houston broke the pressure in the 59th minute when Melissa Henderson assisted Ohai on a two-on-one breakaway after the Dash cleared a ball off their own goalline to stretch the lead to two goals, but rookie Sofia Huerta grabbed a goal a minute later and a second in the 81st minute for her second straight two-goal game and a share of the points. The Red Stars remain unbeaten and at the top of the NWSL standings.
Boston Breakers 1-0 Portland Thorns FC
Kristie Mewis came through in stoppage time with a goal as the Breakers grabbed another big win at home. Mewis had an opportunity go off the crossbar in the 36th minute as she tried to chip Portland goalkeeper Michelle Betos, but got her redemption in the 93rd minute of play. Betos came just outside of the box to head away a long, bouncing ball from the oncoming Maddy Evans, but the clearance fell right to Mewis. The forward looped the ball over the backpedalling defense for the game winner and her first goal of the season. It was Portland's first loss of the season, and they dropped to fourth place in the league table.
Washington Spirit 1-0 Sky Blue FC
The final game of the weekend also came down to a stoppage-time winner, this one coming from the Spirit's Francisca Ordega. Sky Blue was active in the final third all match, logging 21 shots to Washington's 9, but goalkeeper Kelsey Wys came up with nine saves in the match to keep the Spirit in it. It paid off in extra time, as Crystal Dunn threaded a ball to Ordega in the SBFC box. The Nigerian forward beat Sky Blue goalkeeper Brittany Cameron to the ball and maneuvered past to secure a home victory for the Spirit.
Week 7 Fixtures
Friday, May 22
Boston Breakers vs. Sky Blue FC (6 p.m. CT)
Saturday, May 23
Western New York Flash vs. Washington Spirit (6 p.m. CT)
FC Kansas City vs. Chicago Red Stars (7 p.m. CT)
Portland Thorns FC vs. Houston Dash (9 p.m. CT)
