    <!DOCTYPE html>
    <html lang="en-US">



<head>

	        <meta charset="UTF-8">
        <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
        <link rel="profile" href="http://gmpg.org/xfn/11">
        <link rel="pingback" href="http://backlinesoccer.com/xmlrpc.php">
<title>6 Takeaways from NWSL: Week 18 &#8211; Backline Soccer</title>
        <style type="text/css">
        /*=====COLOR OPTION=====*/

        /*Color*/
        /*----------------------------------*/
        /*background color*/ 
                  .top-header,
          .site-header,
          body:not(.home) #page .site-content, 
          body.home.blog #page .site-content {
            background-color: #ffffff;
          }
                    section.wrapper-slider .slide-pager .cycle-pager-active,
            section.wrapper-slider .slide-pager .cycle-pager-active:visited,
            section.wrapper-slider .slide-pager .cycle-pager-active:hover,
            section.wrapper-slider .slide-pager .cycle-pager-active:focus,
            section.wrapper-slider .slide-pager .cycle-pager-active:active,
            .title-divider,
            .title-divider:visited,
            .block-overlay-hover,
            .block-overlay-hover:visited,
            #gmaptoggle,
            #gmaptoggle:visited,
            .evision-back-to-top,
            .evision-back-to-top:visited,
            .search-form .search-submit,
            .search-form .search-submit:visited,
            .widget_calendar tbody a,
            .widget_calendar tbody a:visited,
            .wrap-portfolio .button.is-checked,
            .button.button-outline:hover, 
            .button.button-outline:focus, 
            .button.button-outline:active,
            .radius-thumb-holder,
            .radius-thumb-holder:before,
            .radius-thumb-holder:hover:before, 
            .radius-thumb-holder:focus:before, 
            .radius-thumb-holder:active:before,
            #pbCloseBtn:hover:before,
            .slide-pager .cycle-pager-active, 
            .slick-dots .slick-active button,
            .slide-pager span:hover,
            .featurepost .latestpost-footer .moredetail a,
            .featurepost .latestpost-footer .moredetail a:visited,
            #load-wrap,
            .back-tonav,
            .back-tonav:visited,
            .wrap-service .box-container .box-inner:hover .box-content, 
            .wrap-service .box-container .box-inner:focus .box-content,
            .search-holder .search-bg.search-open form,
            .top-header .noticebar .notice-title,
            .top-header .timer,
            .nav-buttons,
            .widget .widgettitle:after,
            .widget .widget-title:after,
            .widget input.search-submit,
            .widget .search-form .search-submit,
            .widget .search-form .search-submit:focus,
            .main-navigation.sec-main-navigation ul li.current_page_item:before,
            .comments-area input[type="submit"],
            .wrap-nav .wrap-inner{
              background-color: #ce403d;
            }

            .wrapper-slider,
            .flip-container .front,
            .flip-container .back,
            .wrap-nav .wrap-inner{
              border-color: #ce403d !important; /*#2e5077*/
            }

            @media screen and (min-width: 768px){
            .main-navigation .current_page_item > a:after,
            .main-navigation .current-menu-item > a:after,
            .main-navigation .current_page_ancestor > a:after,
            .main-navigation li.active > a:after,
            .main-navigation li.active > a:after,
            .main-navigation li.active > a:after,
            .main-navigation li.current_page_parent a:after {
                background-color: #ce403d;
              }
            }

            .latestpost-footer .moredetail a,
            .latestpost-footer .moredetail a:visited,
            aside#secondary .widget ul li:before,
            aside#secondary .tagcloud a:before{
              color: #ce403d;
            }
                    /*Site identity / logo & tagline*/
            .site-header .wrapper-site-identity .site-branding .site-title a,
            .site-header .wrapper-site-identity .site-title a:visited,
            .site-header .wrapper-site-identity .site-branding .site-description,
            .page-inner-title .entry-header time {
              color: #313131; /*#545C68*/
            }
         
        /*Primary*/
          html, body, p, button, input, select, textarea, pre, code, kbd, tt, var, samp , .main-navigation a, search-input-holder .search-field,
          .widget .widgettitle, .widget .widget-title{
          font-family: 'Merriweather'; /*Lato*/
          }
         
          /*Site identity / logo & tagline*/
          .site-header .wrapper-site-identity .site-title a, .site-header .wrapper-site-identity .site-description {
          font-family: 'Merriweather'; /*Lato*/
          }
         
          /*Title*/
          h1, h1 a,
          h2, h2 a,
          h3, h3 a,
          h4, h4 a,
          h5, h5 a,
          h6, h6 a{
            font-family: 'Merriweather'; /*Lato*/
          }
                </style>
    <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//s0.wp.com' />
<link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//s.gravatar.com' />
<link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//w.sharethis.com' />
<link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//cdn.jsdelivr.net' />
<link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//fonts.googleapis.com' />
<link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//s.w.org' />
<link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Backline Soccer &raquo; Feed" href="http://backlinesoccer.com/feed" />
<link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Backline Soccer &raquo; Comments Feed" href="http://backlinesoccer.com/comments/feed" />
		<script type="text/javascript">
			window._wpemojiSettings = {"baseUrl":"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/2.4\/72x72\/","ext":".png","svgUrl":"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/2.4\/svg\/","svgExt":".svg","source":{"concatemoji":"http:\/\/backlinesoccer.com\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-emoji-release.min.js?ver=4.9.4"}};
			!function(a,b,c){function d(a,b){var c=String.fromCharCode;l.clearRect(0,0,k.width,k.height),l.fillText(c.apply(this,a),0,0);var d=k.toDataURL();l.clearRect(0,0,k.width,k.height),l.fillText(c.apply(this,b),0,0);var e=k.toDataURL();return d===e}function e(a){var b;if(!l||!l.fillText)return!1;switch(l.textBaseline="top",l.font="600 32px Arial",a){case"flag":return!(b=d([55356,56826,55356,56819],[55356,56826,8203,55356,56819]))&&(b=d([55356,57332,56128,56423,56128,56418,56128,56421,56128,56430,56128,56423,56128,56447],[55356,57332,8203,56128,56423,8203,56128,56418,8203,56128,56421,8203,56128,56430,8203,56128,56423,8203,56128,56447]),!b);case"emoji":return b=d([55357,56692,8205,9792,65039],[55357,56692,8203,9792,65039]),!b}return!1}function f(a){var c=b.createElement("script");c.src=a,c.defer=c.type="text/javascript",b.getElementsByTagName("head")[0].appendChild(c)}var g,h,i,j,k=b.createElement("canvas"),l=k.getContext&&k.getContext("2d");for(j=Array("flag","emoji"),c.supports={everything:!0,everythingExceptFlag:!0},i=0;i<j.length;i++)c.supports[j[i]]=e(j[i]),c.supports.everything=c.supports.everything&&c.supports[j[i]],"flag"!==j[i]&&(c.supports.everythingExceptFlag=c.supports.everythingExceptFlag&&c.supports[j[i]]);c.supports.everythingExceptFlag=c.supports.everythingExceptFlag&&!c.supports.flag,c.DOMReady=!1,c.readyCallback=function(){c.DOMReady=!0},c.supports.everything||(h=function(){c.readyCallback()},b.addEventListener?(b.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",h,!1),a.addEventListener("load",h,!1)):(a.attachEvent("onload",h),b.attachEvent("onreadystatechange",function(){"complete"===b.readyState&&c.readyCallback()})),g=c.source||{},g.concatemoji?f(g.concatemoji):g.wpemoji&&g.twemoji&&(f(g.twemoji),f(g.wpemoji)))}(window,document,window._wpemojiSettings);
		</script>
		<style type="text/css">
img.wp-smiley,
img.emoji {
	display: inline !important;
	border: none !important;
	box-shadow: none !important;
	height: 1em !important;
	width: 1em !important;
	margin: 0 .07em !important;
	vertical-align: -0.1em !important;
	background: none !important;
	padding: 0 !important;
}
</style>
<link rel='stylesheet' id='acx_smw_widget_style-css'  href='http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/plugins/acurax-social-media-widget/css/style.css?v=3.2.6&#038;ver=4.9.4' type='text/css' media='all' />
<link rel='stylesheet' id='adsns_css-css'  href='http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/plugins/adsense-plugin/css/adsns.css?ver=1.47' type='text/css' media='all' />
<link rel='stylesheet' id='contact-form-7-css'  href='http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/plugins/contact-form-7/includes/css/styles.css?ver=5.0' type='text/css' media='all' />
<link rel='stylesheet' id='media-credit-end-css'  href='http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/plugins/media-credit/public/css/media-credit-end.css?ver=3.1.7' type='text/css' media='all' />
<link rel='stylesheet' id='bwg_frontend-css'  href='http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/plugins/photo-gallery/css/bwg_frontend.css?ver=1.3.68' type='text/css' media='all' />
<link rel='stylesheet' id='bwg_font-awesome-css'  href='http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/plugins/photo-gallery/css/font-awesome/font-awesome.css?ver=4.6.3' type='text/css' media='all' />
<link rel='stylesheet' id='bwg_mCustomScrollbar-css'  href='http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/plugins/photo-gallery/css/jquery.mCustomScrollbar.css?ver=1.3.68' type='text/css' media='all' />
<link rel='stylesheet' id='bwg_sumoselect-css'  href='http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/plugins/photo-gallery/css/sumoselect.css?ver=3.0.2' type='text/css' media='all' />
<link rel='stylesheet' id='uaf_client_css-css'  href='http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/useanyfont/uaf.css?ver=1517258696' type='text/css' media='all' />
<link rel='stylesheet' id='wpstatistics-css-css'  href='http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-statistics/assets/css/frontend.css?ver=12.3.5' type='text/css' media='all' />
<link rel='stylesheet' id='jquery-slick-css-css'  href='http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/themes/emag/assets/frameworks/slick/slick.css?ver=3.4.0' type='text/css' media='all' />
<link rel='stylesheet' id='jquery-slick-theme-css'  href='http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/themes/emag/assets/frameworks/slick/slick-theme.css?ver=3.4.0' type='text/css' media='all' />
<link rel='stylesheet' id='emag-style-css'  href='http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/themes/emag/style.css?ver=4.9.4' type='text/css' media='all' />
<link rel='stylesheet' id='emag-google-fonts-css'  href='https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Merriweather%3A400%2C400italic%2C300%2C900%2C700%7CMerriweather%3A400%2C400italic%2C300%2C900%2C700%7CMerriweather%3A400%2C400italic%2C300%2C900%2C700&#038;ver=4.9.4' type='text/css' media='all' />
<link rel='stylesheet' id='tablepress-default-css'  href='http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/plugins/tablepress/css/default.min.css?ver=1.9' type='text/css' media='all' />
<link rel='stylesheet' id='newsletter-subscription-css'  href='http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/plugins/newsletter/subscription/style.css?ver=5.2.3' type='text/css' media='all' />
<link rel='stylesheet' id='jetpack_css-css'  href='http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/css/jetpack.css?ver=5.8' type='text/css' media='all' />
<script type='text/javascript' src='http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery.js?ver=1.12.4'></script>
<script type='text/javascript' src='http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery-migrate.min.js?ver=1.4.1'></script>
<script type='text/javascript' src='http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/plugins/photo-gallery/js/bwg_frontend.js?ver=1.3.68'></script>
<script type='text/javascript'>
/* <![CDATA[ */
var bwg_objectsL10n = {"bwg_select_tag":"Select Tag","bwg_search":"Search"};
/* ]]> */
</script>
<script type='text/javascript' src='http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/plugins/photo-gallery/js/jquery.sumoselect.min.js?ver=3.0.2'></script>
<script type='text/javascript' src='http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/plugins/photo-gallery/js/jquery.mobile.js?ver=1.3.68'></script>
<script type='text/javascript' src='http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/plugins/photo-gallery/js/jquery.mCustomScrollbar.concat.min.js?ver=1.3.68'></script>
<script type='text/javascript' src='http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/plugins/photo-gallery/js/jquery.fullscreen-0.4.1.js?ver=0.4.1'></script>
<script type='text/javascript'>
/* <![CDATA[ */
var bwg_objectL10n = {"bwg_field_required":"field is required.","bwg_mail_validation":"This is not a valid email address.","bwg_search_result":"There are no images matching your search."};
/* ]]> */
</script>
<script type='text/javascript' src='http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/plugins/photo-gallery/js/bwg_gallery_box.js?ver=1.3.68'></script>
<script id='st_insights_js' type='text/javascript' src='http://w.sharethis.com/button/st_insights.js?publisher=eba0f3ba-f9ab-408c-bc68-c28af5afe749&#038;product=feather'></script>
<link rel='https://api.w.org/' href='http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-json/' />
<link rel="EditURI" type="application/rsd+xml" title="RSD" href="http://backlinesoccer.com/xmlrpc.php?rsd" />
<link rel="wlwmanifest" type="application/wlwmanifest+xml" href="http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-includes/wlwmanifest.xml" /> 
<link rel='prev' title='The View from the Sideline: Sky Blue FC vs Boston Breakers' href='http://backlinesoccer.com/the-view-from-the-sideline-sky-blue-fc-vs-boston-breakers' />
<link rel='next' title='Breaking News: Chicago Red Stars Acquire Morgan Brian' href='http://backlinesoccer.com/breaking-news-chicago-red-stars-acquire-morgan-brian' />
<meta name="generator" content="WordPress 4.9.4" />
<link rel="canonical" href="http://backlinesoccer.com/__trashed-2" />
<link rel='shortlink' href='https://wp.me/p7M3fg-33M' />
<link rel="alternate" type="application/json+oembed" href="http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-json/oembed/1.0/embed?url=http%3A%2F%2Fbacklinesoccer.com%2F__trashed-2" />
<link rel="alternate" type="text/xml+oembed" href="http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-json/oembed/1.0/embed?url=http%3A%2F%2Fbacklinesoccer.com%2F__trashed-2&#038;format=xml" />



<!-- Starting Styles For Social Media Icon From Acurax International www.acurax.com -->
<style type='text/css'>
#acx_social_widget img 
{
width: 32px; 
}
#acx_social_widget 
{
min-width:0px; 
position: static; 
}
</style>
<!-- Ending Styles For Social Media Icon From Acurax International www.acurax.com -->



<script>
  (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){
  (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),
  m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)
  })(window,document,'script','https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga');

  ga('create', 'UA-81846137-1', 'auto');
  ga('send', 'pageview');

</script>

<script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>
<script>
  (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({
    google_ad_client: "ca-pub-1177926799222077",
    enable_page_level_ads: true
  });
</script>
<link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//v0.wordpress.com'/>
<link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//widgets.wp.com'/>
<link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//s0.wp.com'/>
<link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//0.gravatar.com'/>
<link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//1.gravatar.com'/>
<link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//2.gravatar.com'/>
<style type='text/css'>img#wpstats{display:none}</style>
<style type="text/css"></style>

<style type="text/css">
.synved-social-resolution-single {
display: inline-block;
}
.synved-social-resolution-normal {
display: inline-block;
}
.synved-social-resolution-hidef {
display: none;
}

@media only screen and (min--moz-device-pixel-ratio: 2),
only screen and (-o-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2/1),
only screen and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2),
only screen and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 2),
only screen and (min-resolution: 2dppx),
only screen and (min-resolution: 192dpi) {
	.synved-social-resolution-normal {
	display: none;
	}
	.synved-social-resolution-hidef {
	display: inline-block;
	}
}
</style>
<link rel="icon" href="http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/cropped-Screen-Shot-2017-08-05-at-8.03.52-PM-32x32.png" sizes="32x32" />
<link rel="icon" href="http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/cropped-Screen-Shot-2017-08-05-at-8.03.52-PM-192x192.png" sizes="192x192" />
<link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" href="http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/cropped-Screen-Shot-2017-08-05-at-8.03.52-PM-180x180.png" />
<meta name="msapplication-TileImage" content="http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/cropped-Screen-Shot-2017-08-05-at-8.03.52-PM-270x270.png" />

</head>

<body class="post-template-default single single-post postid-11766 single-format-standard evision-right-sidebar group-blog">

    <div id="page" class="site">
    <a class="skip-link screen-reader-text" href="#content">Skip to content</a>
    <header class="wrapper top-header">
        <div class="container">
            <div class="wrap-inner">
                <div class="row">
                    <div class="col-xs-12 col-sm-12 col-md-6 top-header-left">
                                            </div>
                    <div class="col-xs-12 col-sm-12 col-md-6 top-header-right">
                                                                            <div class="timer">
                                Tuesday, Feb 13, 2018                            </div>
                                            </div>
                </div>
            </div>
        </div>
    </header>
    <header id="masthead" class="wrapper wrap-head site-header">
        <div class="wrapper wrapper-site-identity">
            <div class="container">
                <div class="row">
                    <div class="col-xs-12 col-sm-12 col-md-4">
                        <div class="site-branding">
                                                                <p class="site-title"><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/" rel="home">Backline Soccer</a></p>
                                                                                    </div><!-- .site-branding -->
                    </div>
                                    </div>
            </div>
        </div>
    </header><!-- #masthead -->
    <nav class="wrapper wrap-nav">
        <div class="container">
            <div class="wrap-inner">
                <div class="sec-menu">
                    <nav id="sec-site-navigation" class="main-navigation sec-main-navigation" role="navigation" aria-label="secondary-menu">
                    
                    <div class="menu-primary-menu-container"><ul id="primary-menu" class="primary-menu"><li id="menu-item-10172" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-home menu-item-10172"><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com">Home</a></li>
<li id="menu-item-10173" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children menu-item-10173"><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/backline-soccer-podcast-network">Podcasts</a>
<ul class="sub-menu">
	<li id="menu-item-13602" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-13602"><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/the-123rd-minute-podcast">The 123rd Minute</a></li>
	<li id="menu-item-13603" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-13603"><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/thescoutingreport">The Scouting Report</a></li>
	<li id="menu-item-13604" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-13604"><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/tsr-quick-kicks">Quick Kicks</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li id="menu-item-13672" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category current-post-ancestor current-menu-parent current-post-parent menu-item-has-children menu-item-13672"><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/category/articles">Articles</a>
<ul class="sub-menu">
	<li id="menu-item-13683" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-13683"><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/category/articles/news">News</a></li>
	<li id="menu-item-13681" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category current-post-ancestor current-menu-parent current-post-parent menu-item-13681"><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/category/articles/opinion">Opinion</a></li>
	<li id="menu-item-13684" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-13684"><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/category/articles/world">World Soccer</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li id="menu-item-13682" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category current-post-ancestor current-menu-parent current-post-parent menu-item-13682"><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/category/articles/analysis">Analysis</a></li>
<li id="menu-item-13575" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-13575"><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/category/articles/interviews">Interviews</a></li>
<li id="menu-item-10274" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-10274"><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/tag/uswnt">USWNT</a></li>
<li id="menu-item-10273" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-has-children menu-item-10273"><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/tag/nwsl">NWSL</a>
<ul class="sub-menu">
	<li id="menu-item-10281" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-10281"><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/tag/boston-breakers">Boston Breakers</a></li>
	<li id="menu-item-10276" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-10276"><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/tag/chicago-red-stars">Chicago Red Stars</a></li>
	<li id="menu-item-10283" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-10283"><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/tag/fc-kansas-city">FC Kansas City</a></li>
	<li id="menu-item-10278" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-10278"><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/tag/houston-dash">Houston Dash</a></li>
	<li id="menu-item-10277" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-10277"><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/tag/orlando-pride">Orlando Pride</a></li>
	<li id="menu-item-10284" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-10284"><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/tag/north-carolina-courage">North Carolina Courage</a></li>
	<li id="menu-item-10282" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-10282"><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/tag/portland-thorns">Portland Thorns</a></li>
	<li id="menu-item-10279" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-10279"><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/tag/seattle-reign">Seattle Reign</a></li>
	<li id="menu-item-10280" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-10280"><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/tag/sky-blue-fc">Sky Blue FC</a></li>
	<li id="menu-item-13570" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-13570"><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/tag/utahroyals">Utah Royals</a></li>
	<li id="menu-item-10275" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-10275"><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/tag/washington-spirit">Washington Spirit</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li id="menu-item-10180" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-10180"><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/aboutus">About Us</a></li>
</ul></div>                    </nav><!-- #site-navigation -->
                    <div class="nav-holder">
                        <button id="sec-menu-toggle" class="menu-toggle" aria-controls="secondary-menu" aria-expanded="false"><span class="fa fa-bars"></span></button>
                        <div id="sec-site-header-menu" class="site-header-menu">
                            <div class="container">
                                <div class="row">
                                    <div class="col-xs-12 col-sm-12 col-md-12">
                                        <button id="mobile-menu-toggle-close" class="menu-toggle" aria-controls="secondary-menu"><span class="fa fa-close fa-2x"></span></button>
                                    </div>
                                    <div class="col-xs-12 col-sm-12 col-md-12">
                                        <nav id="sec-site-navigation-mobile" class="main-navigation sec-main-navigation" role="navigation" aria-label="secondary-menu">
                                        <div class="menu-primary-menu-container"><ul id="primary-menu-mobile" class="primary-menu"><li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-home menu-item-10172"><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com">Home</a></li>
<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children menu-item-10173"><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/backline-soccer-podcast-network">Podcasts</a>
<ul class="sub-menu">
	<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-13602"><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/the-123rd-minute-podcast">The 123rd Minute</a></li>
	<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-13603"><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/thescoutingreport">The Scouting Report</a></li>
	<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-13604"><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/tsr-quick-kicks">Quick Kicks</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category current-post-ancestor current-menu-parent current-post-parent menu-item-has-children menu-item-13672"><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/category/articles">Articles</a>
<ul class="sub-menu">
	<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-13683"><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/category/articles/news">News</a></li>
	<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category current-post-ancestor current-menu-parent current-post-parent menu-item-13681"><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/category/articles/opinion">Opinion</a></li>
	<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-13684"><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/category/articles/world">World Soccer</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category current-post-ancestor current-menu-parent current-post-parent menu-item-13682"><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/category/articles/analysis">Analysis</a></li>
<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-13575"><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/category/articles/interviews">Interviews</a></li>
<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-10274"><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/tag/uswnt">USWNT</a></li>
<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-has-children menu-item-10273"><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/tag/nwsl">NWSL</a>
<ul class="sub-menu">
	<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-10281"><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/tag/boston-breakers">Boston Breakers</a></li>
	<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-10276"><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/tag/chicago-red-stars">Chicago Red Stars</a></li>
	<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-10283"><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/tag/fc-kansas-city">FC Kansas City</a></li>
	<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-10278"><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/tag/houston-dash">Houston Dash</a></li>
	<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-10277"><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/tag/orlando-pride">Orlando Pride</a></li>
	<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-10284"><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/tag/north-carolina-courage">North Carolina Courage</a></li>
	<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-10282"><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/tag/portland-thorns">Portland Thorns</a></li>
	<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-10279"><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/tag/seattle-reign">Seattle Reign</a></li>
	<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-10280"><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/tag/sky-blue-fc">Sky Blue FC</a></li>
	<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-13570"><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/tag/utahroyals">Utah Royals</a></li>
	<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-10275"><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/tag/washington-spirit">Washington Spirit</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-10180"><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/aboutus">About Us</a></li>
</ul></div>                                        </nav><!-- #site-navigation -->
                                    </div>
                                </div>
                            </div>
                        </div><!-- site-header-menu -->
                    </div>
                </div>
                                    <div class="nav-buttons">
                                                    <div class="button-list">
                                <a href="http://backlinesoccer.com"><i class="fa fa-home"></i></a>
                            </div>
                                                                            <div class="button-list">
                                <a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/?random=1 "><i class="fa fa-random"></i></a>
                            </div>
                                                
                                                    <div class="button-list">
                                <div class="search-holder">
                                  <a class="button-search button-outline" href="#">
                                    <i class="fa fa-search"></i>
                                  </a>                                
                                </div>
                            </div>    
                                            </div>
                            </div>
             <div class="search-form-nav" id="top-search">
                <form role="search" method="get" class="search-form" action="http://backlinesoccer.com/">
				<label>
					<span class="screen-reader-text">Search for:</span>
					<input type="search" class="search-field" placeholder="Search &hellip;" value="" name="s" />
				</label>
				<input type="submit" class="search-submit" value="Search" />
			</form>            </div>
        </div>
    </nav>
    <section class="wrapper">
        <div id="content" class="site-content">
					<div class="wrapper page-inner-title">
				<div class="container">
				    <div class="row">
				        <div class="col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12">
							<header class="entry-header inner-banner-no-image" style="background-image: url('')">
								<div class="inner-banner-overlay">
																		<h1 class="entry-title">6 Takeaways from NWSL: Week 18</h1>																			<header class="entry-header">
											<div class="entry-meta entry-inner">
												<span class="posted-on">On <a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/2017/08/30" rel="bookmark"><time class="entry-date published" datetime="2017-08-30T13:00:58+00:00">August 30, 2017</time><time class="updated" datetime="2017-10-29T15:14:28+00:00">October 29, 2017</time></a></span><span class="byline"> By <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="http://backlinesoccer.com/author/backline-soccer-takeaways">backline-soccer-takeaways</a></span></span>											</div><!-- .entry-meta -->
										</header><!-- .entry-header -->
																	</div>
							</header><!-- .entry-header -->
				        </div>
				    </div>
				</div>
			</div>

		<div id="breadcrumb" class="wrapper wrap-breadcrumb"><div class="container"><div role="navigation" aria-label="Breadcrumbs" class="breadcrumb-trail breadcrumbs" itemprop="breadcrumb"><ul class="trail-items" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/BreadcrumbList"><meta name="numberOfItems" content="3" /><meta name="itemListOrder" content="Ascending" /><li itemprop="itemListElement" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/ListItem" class="trail-item trail-begin"><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com" rel="home"><span itemprop="name">Home</span></a><meta itemprop="position" content="1" /></li><li itemprop="itemListElement" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/ListItem" class="trail-item"><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/category/articles"><span itemprop="name">Articles</span></a><meta itemprop="position" content="2" /></li><li itemprop="itemListElement" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/ListItem" class="trail-item trail-end"><span itemprop="name">6 Takeaways from NWSL: Week 18</span><meta itemprop="position" content="3" /></li></ul></div></div><!-- .container --></div><!-- #breadcrumb -->

	<div id="primary" class="content-area">
		<main id="main" class="site-main" role="main">

			<div class="entry-content">
		<div class='image-full'><img width="1070" height="470" src="http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/feature-image-30.jpg" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" alt="" srcset="http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/feature-image-30.jpg 1070w, http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/feature-image-30-150x66.jpg 150w, http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/feature-image-30-300x132.jpg 300w, http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/feature-image-30-768x337.jpg 768w, http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/feature-image-30-1024x450.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 1070px) 100vw, 1070px" /></div>
		<a class="synved-social-button synved-social-button-share synved-social-size-64 synved-social-resolution-normal synved-social-provider-facebook nolightbox" data-provider="facebook" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" title="Share on Facebook" href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwp.me%2Fp7M3fg-33M&#038;t=6%20Takeaways%20from%20NWSL%3A%20Week%2018&#038;s=100&#038;p&#091;url&#093;=https%3A%2F%2Fwp.me%2Fp7M3fg-33M&#038;p&#091;images&#093;&#091;0&#093;=http%3A%2F%2Fbacklinesoccer.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F08%2Ffeature-image-30.jpg&#038;p&#091;title&#093;=6%20Takeaways%20from%20NWSL%3A%20Week%2018" style="font-size: 0px; width:64px;height:64px;margin:0;margin-bottom:5px;margin-right:5px;"><img alt="Facebook" title="Share on Facebook" class="synved-share-image synved-social-image synved-social-image-share" width="64" height="64" style="display: inline; width:64px;height:64px; margin: 0; padding: 0; border: none; box-shadow: none;" src="http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/plugins/social-media-feather/synved-social/image/social/regular/64x64/facebook.png" /></a><a class="synved-social-button synved-social-button-share synved-social-size-64 synved-social-resolution-normal synved-social-provider-twitter nolightbox" data-provider="twitter" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" title="Share on Twitter" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwp.me%2Fp7M3fg-33M&#038;text=Hey%20check%20this%20out" style="font-size: 0px; width:64px;height:64px;margin:0;margin-bottom:5px;margin-right:5px;"><img alt="twitter" title="Share on Twitter" class="synved-share-image synved-social-image synved-social-image-share" width="64" height="64" style="display: inline; width:64px;height:64px; margin: 0; padding: 0; border: none; box-shadow: none;" src="http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/plugins/social-media-feather/synved-social/image/social/regular/64x64/twitter.png" /></a><a class="synved-social-button synved-social-button-share synved-social-size-64 synved-social-resolution-normal synved-social-provider-google_plus nolightbox" data-provider="google_plus" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" title="Share on Google+" href="https://plus.google.com/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwp.me%2Fp7M3fg-33M" style="font-size: 0px; width:64px;height:64px;margin:0;margin-bottom:5px;margin-right:5px;"><img alt="google_plus" title="Share on Google+" class="synved-share-image synved-social-image synved-social-image-share" width="64" height="64" style="display: inline; width:64px;height:64px; margin: 0; padding: 0; border: none; box-shadow: none;" src="http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/plugins/social-media-feather/synved-social/image/social/regular/64x64/google_plus.png" /></a><a class="synved-social-button synved-social-button-share synved-social-size-64 synved-social-resolution-normal synved-social-provider-reddit nolightbox" data-provider="reddit" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" title="Share on Reddit" href="http://www.reddit.com/submit?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwp.me%2Fp7M3fg-33M&#038;title=6%20Takeaways%20from%20NWSL%3A%20Week%2018" style="font-size: 0px; width:64px;height:64px;margin:0;margin-bottom:5px;margin-right:5px;"><img alt="reddit" title="Share on Reddit" class="synved-share-image synved-social-image synved-social-image-share" width="64" height="64" style="display: inline; width:64px;height:64px; margin: 0; padding: 0; border: none; box-shadow: none;" src="http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/plugins/social-media-feather/synved-social/image/social/regular/64x64/reddit.png" /></a><a class="synved-social-button synved-social-button-share synved-social-size-64 synved-social-resolution-normal synved-social-provider-tumblr nolightbox" data-provider="tumblr" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" title="Share on tumblr" href="http://tumblr.com/share?s=&#038;v=3&#038;t=6%20Takeaways%20from%20NWSL%3A%20Week%2018&#038;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwp.me%2Fp7M3fg-33M" style="font-size: 0px; width:64px;height:64px;margin:0;margin-bottom:5px;margin-right:5px;"><img alt="tumblr" title="Share on tumblr" class="synved-share-image synved-social-image synved-social-image-share" width="64" height="64" style="display: inline; width:64px;height:64px; margin: 0; padding: 0; border: none; box-shadow: none;" src="http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/plugins/social-media-feather/synved-social/image/social/regular/64x64/tumblr.png" /></a><a class="synved-social-button synved-social-button-share synved-social-size-64 synved-social-resolution-normal synved-social-provider-mail nolightbox" data-provider="mail" rel="nofollow" title="Share by email" href="mailto:?subject=6%20Takeaways%20from%20NWSL%3A%20Week%2018&#038;body=Hey%20check%20this%20out:%20https%3A%2F%2Fwp.me%2Fp7M3fg-33M" style="font-size: 0px; width:64px;height:64px;margin:0;margin-bottom:5px;"><img alt="mail" title="Share by email" class="synved-share-image synved-social-image synved-social-image-share" width="64" height="64" style="display: inline; width:64px;height:64px; margin: 0; padding: 0; border: none; box-shadow: none;" src="http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/plugins/social-media-feather/synved-social/image/social/regular/64x64/mail.png" /></a><a class="synved-social-button synved-social-button-share synved-social-size-64 synved-social-resolution-hidef synved-social-provider-facebook nolightbox" data-provider="facebook" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" title="Share on Facebook" href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwp.me%2Fp7M3fg-33M&#038;t=6%20Takeaways%20from%20NWSL%3A%20Week%2018&#038;s=100&#038;p&#091;url&#093;=https%3A%2F%2Fwp.me%2Fp7M3fg-33M&#038;p&#091;images&#093;&#091;0&#093;=http%3A%2F%2Fbacklinesoccer.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F08%2Ffeature-image-30.jpg&#038;p&#091;title&#093;=6%20Takeaways%20from%20NWSL%3A%20Week%2018" style="font-size: 0px; width:64px;height:64px;margin:0;margin-bottom:5px;margin-right:5px;"><img alt="Facebook" title="Share on Facebook" class="synved-share-image synved-social-image synved-social-image-share" width="64" height="64" style="display: inline; width:64px;height:64px; margin: 0; padding: 0; border: none; box-shadow: none;" src="http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/plugins/social-media-feather/synved-social/image/social/regular/128x128/facebook.png" /></a><a class="synved-social-button synved-social-button-share synved-social-size-64 synved-social-resolution-hidef synved-social-provider-twitter nolightbox" data-provider="twitter" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" title="Share on Twitter" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwp.me%2Fp7M3fg-33M&#038;text=Hey%20check%20this%20out" style="font-size: 0px; width:64px;height:64px;margin:0;margin-bottom:5px;margin-right:5px;"><img alt="twitter" title="Share on Twitter" class="synved-share-image synved-social-image synved-social-image-share" width="64" height="64" style="display: inline; width:64px;height:64px; margin: 0; padding: 0; border: none; box-shadow: none;" src="http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/plugins/social-media-feather/synved-social/image/social/regular/128x128/twitter.png" /></a><a class="synved-social-button synved-social-button-share synved-social-size-64 synved-social-resolution-hidef synved-social-provider-google_plus nolightbox" data-provider="google_plus" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" title="Share on Google+" href="https://plus.google.com/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwp.me%2Fp7M3fg-33M" style="font-size: 0px; width:64px;height:64px;margin:0;margin-bottom:5px;margin-right:5px;"><img alt="google_plus" title="Share on Google+" class="synved-share-image synved-social-image synved-social-image-share" width="64" height="64" style="display: inline; width:64px;height:64px; margin: 0; padding: 0; border: none; box-shadow: none;" src="http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/plugins/social-media-feather/synved-social/image/social/regular/128x128/google_plus.png" /></a><a class="synved-social-button synved-social-button-share synved-social-size-64 synved-social-resolution-hidef synved-social-provider-reddit nolightbox" data-provider="reddit" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" title="Share on Reddit" href="http://www.reddit.com/submit?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwp.me%2Fp7M3fg-33M&#038;title=6%20Takeaways%20from%20NWSL%3A%20Week%2018" style="font-size: 0px; width:64px;height:64px;margin:0;margin-bottom:5px;margin-right:5px;"><img alt="reddit" title="Share on Reddit" class="synved-share-image synved-social-image synved-social-image-share" width="64" height="64" style="display: inline; width:64px;height:64px; margin: 0; padding: 0; border: none; box-shadow: none;" src="http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/plugins/social-media-feather/synved-social/image/social/regular/128x128/reddit.png" /></a><a class="synved-social-button synved-social-button-share synved-social-size-64 synved-social-resolution-hidef synved-social-provider-tumblr nolightbox" data-provider="tumblr" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" title="Share on tumblr" href="http://tumblr.com/share?s=&#038;v=3&#038;t=6%20Takeaways%20from%20NWSL%3A%20Week%2018&#038;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwp.me%2Fp7M3fg-33M" style="font-size: 0px; width:64px;height:64px;margin:0;margin-bottom:5px;margin-right:5px;"><img alt="tumblr" title="Share on tumblr" class="synved-share-image synved-social-image synved-social-image-share" width="64" height="64" style="display: inline; width:64px;height:64px; margin: 0; padding: 0; border: none; box-shadow: none;" src="http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/plugins/social-media-feather/synved-social/image/social/regular/128x128/tumblr.png" /></a><a class="synved-social-button synved-social-button-share synved-social-size-64 synved-social-resolution-hidef synved-social-provider-mail nolightbox" data-provider="mail" rel="nofollow" title="Share by email" href="mailto:?subject=6%20Takeaways%20from%20NWSL%3A%20Week%2018&#038;body=Hey%20check%20this%20out:%20https%3A%2F%2Fwp.me%2Fp7M3fg-33M" style="font-size: 0px; width:64px;height:64px;margin:0;margin-bottom:5px;"><img alt="mail" title="Share by email" class="synved-share-image synved-social-image synved-social-image-share" width="64" height="64" style="display: inline; width:64px;height:64px; margin: 0; padding: 0; border: none; box-shadow: none;" src="http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/plugins/social-media-feather/synved-social/image/social/regular/128x128/mail.png" /></a><p><span style="font-weight: 400; font-size: 20px;"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-11779" src="http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/6-takeaways-wk-18-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" srcset="http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/6-takeaways-wk-18-300x300.jpg 300w, http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/6-takeaways-wk-18-150x150.jpg 150w, http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/6-takeaways-wk-18-768x768.jpg 768w, http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/6-takeaways-wk-18-215x215.jpg 215w, http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/6-takeaways-wk-18.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Week 18 has come and gone. As we head into the final stretch of games, the mad dash for the NWSL playoffs continues in what aims to be a season for the record books. This week involved four games, three identical score lines, a team trying to stop a freefall, and a natural disaster that could have long-lasting, devastating implications moving forward.</span></p>
<hr />
<p><span style="font-size: 24px;"><b>Chicago Slows Down the Bleeding But Still Needs Stitches</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> &#8211; Alyssa Zajac</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400; font-size: 20px;">If you are a Red Stars fan, you probably went into Saturday’s game hoping and wishing for a vital three points and a snapped losing streak. Wish granted! Chicago escaped the Spirit’s home turf with the win and their first three points since Aug. 5. And yes, I did use the word “escaped”- if Christen Press hadn’t done Christen Press things in the 87th minute after Cheyna Williams scored the equalizer in the 81st minute, the game would have ended in a draw and two points lost for Chicago. Which leads me to my take.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400; font-size: 20px;">Chicago’s weakness is their inability to close out games. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400; font-size: 20px;">Looking back at Chicago&#8217;s season, they have given up nine goals in the 80th minute or later of games. Out of the 24 goals Chicago has allowed, 37.5% of them came in the waning minutes of matches. Which &#8230; is not a great thing. I dove into the impact of  these goals, and this is how it broke down:</span></p>
<ul>
<li style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="font-weight: 400; font-size: 20px;">Houston (Daly 80’) &#8211; goal differential. Result: 2-0 Loss</span></li>
<li style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="font-weight: 400; font-size: 20px;">North Carolina (Debinha 82’) &#8211; goal differential. Result: 3-2 Win</span></li>
<li style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="font-weight: 400; font-size: 20px;">Seattle (Rapinoe 84’ [P]) &#8211; goal differential, one point. Result: 2-1 Loss</span></li>
<li style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="font-weight: 400; font-size: 20px;">Sky Blue FC (Kerr 90’) &#8211; goal differential, two points. Result: 2-2 Draw</span></li>
<li style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="font-weight: 400; font-size: 20px;">Orlando (Kennedy 93’) &#8211; goal differential, loss of clean sheet. Result: 2-1 Win</span></li>
<li style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="font-weight: 400; font-size: 20px;">Seattle (Kawasumi 90’, Johnson 92’) &#8211; goal differential, three points, loss of clean sheet. Result: 1-2 Loss</span></li>
<li style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="font-weight: 400; font-size: 20px;">FC Kansas City (Kelly 80’) &#8211; goal differential. Result: 1-3 Loss</span></li>
<li style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="font-weight: 400; font-size: 20px;">Washington (Williams 81’) &#8211;  goal differential, loss of clean sheet. Result: 1-2 Win</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400; font-size: 20px;">Basing ‘what could have been’ results on what the scores were before the late goals were conceded, Chicago has directly given up at least six points in the last minutes of games. If the Red Stars had managed to close out these games, they would currently be at 38 points, just one point shy of first place. What also needs to be taken into consideration is goal differential. Should the final standings come to the goal differential tiebreaker, the Red Stars have made things very difficult on themselves.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400; font-size: 20px;">There may be nothing that Chicago can do about the past, but the final four games of the season are going to be key. Losing games and conceding goals in the final minutes is no longer an option for the Red Stars, and they need to figure out how to close out games. In my eyes, it’s do or die time. I really hope they come out on the side of “do.” </span></p>
<hr />
<p><span style="font-size: 24px;"><b>An End of an Era Approaches FC Kansas City, and They May Not Be Prepared</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> &#8211; Alyssa Zajac </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400; font-size: 20px;">Nicole Barnhart isn’t going to play forever.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400; font-size: 20px;">Our hearts may not want it to be true, but our heads acknowledge reality. There will come a day when FC Kansas City exists without Barnhart in goal. But the team may not fully be prepared for that eventuality. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400; font-size: 20px;">Let me explain. Throughout FCKC’s existence, Barnhart has been the go-to starting goalkeeper. However, the position of backup keeper has had a seemingly endless turnover. From Bianca Henninger in 2013,  Sara Keane and Cecilia Santiago in 2014, Katelyn Rowland in 2015, and Cat Parkhill in 2016 and 2017, there really hasn’t been a chance for a goalkeeper to extensively learn from and train with one of the best goalkeepers in the game. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400; font-size: 20px;">In comparison, the Seattle Reign initially drafted Haley Kopmeyer in 2013, re-signed her in 2014, and had her train with and learn from Hope Solo &#8211; arguably the greatest goalkeeper to ever play the game &#8211; consistently over the next two years. When Solo took an indefinite leave of absence in 2016, Kopmeyer was well equipped and prepared to take over the starting role. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400; font-size: 20px;">Kansas City doesn’t really have that luxury. That’s not to say Cat Parkhill isn’t capable of being the starting goalkeeper. I’m sure she could be, I’m just not sold on how well the team and defense are prepared to play without Barnhart in goal.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400; font-size: 20px;">As the off season approaches, FCKC should be looking to potential goalkeepers to invest in &#8211; whether they be potential draftees or goalkeepers who are already in the playing pool. Just in case, because the future comes whether we’re ready for it or not. </span></p>
<hr />
<p><span style="font-size: 24px;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Let&#8217;s Talk Six, Baby</strong> &#8211; Elizabeth Wawrzyniak</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">With a scant few weeks left in the &#8220;historic fifth season,&#8221; it&#8217;s time to start thinking about the even more historic sixth season. </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">I&#8217;ve been thinking all week about this, and there are a few areas I think the NWSL needs to address as it moves into the second half of their first decade. </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">First, stop using the word &#8220;historic.&#8221; </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Okay, that one&#8217;s a joke. </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">First, stop hiding behind artificially inflated &#8220;maximum NWSL salary&#8221; lies. RJ Allen wrote a great piece earlier this season about how despite the fact that the minimum and maximum were raised for the 2017 season, in actuality, if one player makes the maximum, the rest can earn only slightly more than the minimum. And this is because of the NWSL team salary cap. In reality, the league needs to expand salary caps as well as their minimums because almost all non-Federation players are hovering around the poverty line unless they have some other source of income. </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 20px;">Second, the bar for refs needs to be raised.  This season has seen everything from referees choosing not to intervene after flagrant, card-worthy offenses to illogical cards for imaginary fouls. The refs need to be held to a higher standard, and their interventions need to be consistent. I&#8217;m a sports-fan, so of course, I&#8217;m going to scream at my television now and then, disagreeing with a call. But this season&#8217;s PRO performance has been appalling, and the complaints and concerns being raised are far more credible than the usual armchair quarterbacking that goes on in sports. Coaches, players, and fans are all concerned not only with the quality of the game but the safety of the players on the field. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 20px;">Third, the NWSL needs to make improvements to its streaming. 2017 has been an inconsistent (and sometimes downright ridiculous) mess. The deal with Go90 was thrown together and implemented with no coherent structure or support. Go90 is clunky&#8211;both in terms of watching and navigating. I don&#8217;t know anyone who really watches via that platform, most choose to use a VPN and watch on the NWSL site itself with the international viewers. It&#8217;s only sheer laziness that&#8217;s kept me from doing the same. When watching, and especially as someone who sometimes needs to watch a particular</span> <span style="font-size: 20px;">play</span> <span style="font-size: 20px;">over and over again in order to write about it, the ability to pause, rewind, fast-forward, etc., is frequently absent. Or maybe others have figured it out and I&#8217;m just dumb&#8211;that is always a possibility.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 20px;">And last, advertising. Every Go90 game has that &#8220;in commercial&#8221; screen, except the event is not taking a commercial break. But what a great opportunity to sell some ads during the non-Lifetime games. You&#8217;ve got a few designated times of known length. You&#8217;re a young league that should always be looking for steady income streams. Get out there and find some sponsors to fill that blank space. Please. Because I&#8217;m tired of hearing the chatter as the announcers forget to turn their mics off during those designated break segments. </span></p>
<hr />
<p><span style="font-size: 24px;"><strong>#1, #1, #1</strong> &#8211; Elizabeth Wawrzyniak</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 20px;">Watching the games this past weekend, all I can think about is the 2018 NWSL College Draft. Who will go #1? </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 20px;">Last year was a no-brainer. Rose Lavelle was going first. This year, I&#8217;m a little less confident, but I know most people think it&#8217;ll be Andi Sullivan, and I can definitely see that. Right now Boston and Washington are both falling over themselves to see who can play worse, and I&#8217;m honestly pretty sure it&#8217;ll end up being Washington in the end. They might have Mallory Pugh, but their bench is just too thin these days, with Arielle Ship&#8217;s recent ACL injury the latest in a long line of Washington&#8217;s SEIs this year. Can you imagine an Andi Sullivan-Mallory Pugh connection? </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 20px;">But then, if it&#8217;s Boston, they&#8217;d be crazy not to take Sullivan. Putting her in the midfield with Lavelle&#8211;listen, I&#8217;m drooling just as much at that possibility as any other. Either way, if Sullivan is the #1, and if either Boston or Washington draft her, they&#8217;ll have made the move that could see them finding the success next year that has eluded them this season. </span></p>
<hr />
<p><span style="font-size: 20px;"><b>Tom Sermanni Makes a Case for Coach of the Year</b> &#8211; Luis Hernandez</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 20px;">The start of the season was rough for the Pride, who were at the bottom of the league standings for the first month. In fact, even though Orlando had added Marta, the team was one of the bottom three teams until Week Nine. Coach Sermanni was adjusting and reevaluating every aspect of his roster. Making position changes with Ali Krieger and Alanna Kennedy while changing up the shape of the squad, he was able to orchestrate a five-match unbeaten streak for his squad, which actually included a four-game winning streak in the month of August.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 20px;">This past weekend, Sermanni shifted his tactics on the road to give his side the full three points. He subbed in Rachel Hill for Kristen Edmonds in minute 69 and then just ten minutes later inserted Toni Pressley for Chioma Ubogagu. Of course, the players on the pitch have to execute, and Alex Morgan put away Marta’s service from a free kick which went through Nicole Barnhart’s hands. There is a lot to expect from Orlando with the talent on the roster, but Sermanni has kept the team loose and had had his adjustments work out. He could certainly see himself picking up coach of the year as well.</span></p>
<hr />
<p><span style="font-size: 20px;"><b>Houston (and All Areas Affected by Harvey) You’re in Our Thoughts </b>&#8211; Luis Hernandez</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 20px;">Sometimes, there are things bigger than soccer. Friday the league announced the postponement of the Houston Dash match against the North Carolina Courage, just before Hurricane Harvey began its reign over Texas which caused catastrophic and life-threatening flooding. Our thoughts are with those people affected by Hurricane Harvey. The impact of this storm will be felt for a long time to come.</span></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Thank you to all the first responders and people helping each other out. That&#39;s what we do as Americans. Here&#39;s one way you can help now. <a href="https://t.co/iGfE8rAoAu">https://t.co/iGfE8rAoAu</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Barack Obama (@BarackObama) <a href="https://twitter.com/BarackObama/status/901946021437206528">August 27, 2017</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<div id="ca-pub-1177926799222077:9243240614" class="ads ads_after"><script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>
<!-- Backline Soccer #2 -->
<ins class="adsbygoogle"
     style="display:block"
     data-ad-client="ca-pub-1177926799222077"
     data-ad-slot="9243240614"
     data-ad-format="auto"></ins>
<script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script></div>			</div><!-- .entry-content -->

	<footer class="entry-footer">
		<span class="cat-links">Posted in <a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/category/articles/analysis" rel="category tag">Analysis</a>, <a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/category/articles" rel="category tag">Articles</a>, <a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/category/articles/opinion" rel="category tag">Opinion</a></span><span class="tags-links">Tagged , <a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/tag/nwsl" rel="tag">NWSL</a></span>	</footer><!-- .entry-footer -->
</article><!-- #post-## -->


	<nav class="navigation post-navigation" role="navigation">
		<h2 class="screen-reader-text">Post navigation</h2>
		<div class="nav-links"><div class="nav-previous"><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/the-view-from-the-sideline-sky-blue-fc-vs-boston-breakers" rel="prev"><span class="post-navi" aria-hidden="true">PREVIOUS POST</span> <span class="screen-reader-text">Previous post:</span> <span class="post-title">The View from the Sideline: Sky Blue FC vs Boston Breakers</span></a></div><div class="nav-next"><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/breaking-news-chicago-red-stars-acquire-morgan-brian" rel="next"><span class="post-navi" aria-hidden="true">NEXT POST</span> <span class="screen-reader-text">Next post:</span> <span class="post-title">Breaking News: Chicago Red Stars Acquire Morgan Brian</span></a></div></div>
	</nav>
		</main><!-- #main -->
	</div><!-- #primary -->


<aside id="secondary" class="widget-area" role="complementary">
	<section id="acx-social-icons-widget-2" class="widget acx-smw-social-icon-desc"><h2 class="widget-title">Follow Us on Social Media</h2><style>
.widget-acx-social-icons-widget-2-widget img 
{
width:32px; 
 } 
</style><div id='acurax_si_widget_simple' class='acx_smw_float_fix widget-acx-social-icons-widget-2-widget' style='text-align:center;'><a href='http://www.twitter.com/backlinesoccer' target='_blank' title='Visit Us On Twitter'><img src=http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/plugins/acurax-social-media-widget/images/themes/1/twitter.png style='border:0px;' alt='Visit Us On Twitter' /></a><a href='http://facebook.com/backlinesoccer' target='_blank' title='Visit Us On Facebook'><img src=http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/plugins/acurax-social-media-widget/images/themes/1/facebook.png style='border:0px;' alt='Visit Us On Facebook' /></a><a href='http://instagram.com/backlinesoccer' target='_blank' title='Visit Us On Instagram'><img src=http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/plugins/acurax-social-media-widget/images/themes/1/instagram.png style='border:0px;' alt='Visit Us On Instagram' /></a><a href='https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO2ypRPtTJ3Tg4yZ4awj6pQ' target='_blank' title='Visit Us On Youtube'><img src=http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/plugins/acurax-social-media-widget/images/themes/1/youtube.png style='border:0px;' alt='Visit Us On Youtube' /></a></div></section><section id="twitter_timeline-3" class="widget widget_twitter_timeline"><h2 class="widget-title">Backline Soccer Twitter</h2><a class="twitter-timeline" data-theme="light" data-link-color="#f96e5b" data-border-color="#e8e8e8" data-tweet-limit="2" data-lang="EN" data-partner="jetpack" href="https://twitter.com/BacklineSoccer">My Tweets</a></section><section id="text-8" class="widget widget_text"><h2 class="widget-title">Backline Soccer Podcasts</h2>			<div class="textwidget"><p><iframe id="multi_iframe" src="https://www.podbean.com/media/player/multi?playlist=http%3A%2F%2Fplaylist.podbean.com%2F1549679%2Fplaylist_multi.xml&#038;vjs=1&#038;kdsowie31j4k1jlf913=6bc083589699da68c78a5540e507c0150f622465&#038;size=315&#038;share=1&#038;fonts=Helvetica&#038;auto=0&#038;download=0&#038;rtl=0&#038;skin=12" width="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p>
</div>
		</section><section id="paypal_donations-3" class="widget widget_paypal_donations"><h2 class="widget-title">Help Support Our Site</h2><!-- Begin PayPal Donations by https://www.tipsandtricks-hq.com/paypal-donations-widgets-plugin -->

<form action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" method="post">
    <div class="paypal-donations">
        <input type="hidden" name="cmd" value="_donations" />
        <input type="hidden" name="bn" value="TipsandTricks_SP" />
        <input type="hidden" name="business" value="backlinesoccer@gmail.com" />
        <input type="hidden" name="page_style" value="Backline Soccer" />
        <input type="hidden" name="return" value="http://backlinesoccer.com" />
        <input type="hidden" name="rm" value="0" />
        <input type="hidden" name="currency_code" value="USD" />
        <input type="image" src="https://www.paypal.com/en_US/i/btn/btn_donate_LG.gif" name="submit" alt="PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online." />
        <img alt="" src="https://www.paypal.com/en_US/i/scr/pixel.gif" width="1" height="1" />
    </div>
</form>
<!-- End PayPal Donations -->
</section><section id="meta-3" class="widget widget_meta"><h2 class="widget-title">Login</h2>			<ul>
						<li><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-login.php">Log in</a></li>
			<li><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/feed">Entries <abbr title="Really Simple Syndication">RSS</abbr></a></li>
			<li><a href="http://backlinesoccer.com/comments/feed">Comments <abbr title="Really Simple Syndication">RSS</abbr></a></li>
			<li><a href="https://wordpress.org/" title="Powered by WordPress, state-of-the-art semantic personal publishing platform.">WordPress.org</a></li>			</ul>
			</section><section id="text-10" class="widget widget_text">			<div class="textwidget"><p><script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script><br />
<!-- Backline Soccer 1 --><br />
<ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display: block;" data-ad-client="ca-pub-1177926799222077" data-ad-slot="1423119010" data-ad-format="auto"></ins><br />
<script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script></p>
</div>
		</section></aside><!-- #secondary -->
        </div><!-- #content -->
    </section>
        <!-- *****************************************
             Footer section starts
    ****************************************** -->
    <footer class="wrapper wrap-footer">
     
        <!-- footer site info -->
        <section id="colophon" class="wrapper site-footer" role="contentinfo">
            <div class="container">
                <div class="row">
                    <div class="xs-12 col-sm-6 col-md-6">
                        <div class="site-info">
                            Copyright &copy; All right reserved.                                                            <span class="sep"> | </span>
                                Theme: eMag by <a href="http://evisionthemes.com/" target = "_blank" rel="designer">eVisionThemes </a>                                                        </div><!-- .site-info -->
                    </div>
                                    </div>
            </div>
        </section><!-- #colophon -->     

    </footer><!-- #colophon -->
    <!-- *****************************************
             Footer section ends
    ****************************************** -->
                    <a id="gotop" class="evision-back-to-top" href="#page"><i class="fa fa-angle-up"></i></a>
            </div><!-- #page -->
    <!-- analytics-counter google analytics tracking code --><script>
    (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){
            (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),
        m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)
    })(window,document,'script','//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga');

    ga('create', 'UA-81846137-1', 'auto');

    ga('set', 'anonymizeIp', true);    ga('send', 'pageview');

</script><!--  -->	<div style="display:none">
	</div>
<script type='text/javascript'>
/* <![CDATA[ */
var wpcf7 = {"apiSettings":{"root":"http:\/\/backlinesoccer.com\/wp-json\/contact-form-7\/v1","namespace":"contact-form-7\/v1"},"recaptcha":{"messages":{"empty":"Please verify that you are not a robot."}}};
/* ]]> */
</script>
<script type='text/javascript' src='http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/plugins/contact-form-7/includes/js/scripts.js?ver=5.0'></script>
<script type='text/javascript' src='https://s0.wp.com/wp-content/js/devicepx-jetpack.js?ver=201807'></script>
<script type='text/javascript' src='http://s.gravatar.com/js/gprofiles.js?ver=2018Febaa'></script>
<script type='text/javascript'>
/* <![CDATA[ */
var WPGroHo = {"my_hash":""};
/* ]]> */
</script>
<script type='text/javascript' src='http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/wpgroho.js?ver=4.9.4'></script>
<script type='text/javascript' src='http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/themes/emag/assets/js/modernizr.min.js?ver=2.8.3'></script>
<script type='text/javascript' src='http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/themes/emag/assets/frameworks/jquery.easing/jquery.easing.js?ver=0.3.6'></script>
<script type='text/javascript' src='http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/themes/emag/assets/frameworks/slick/slick.min.js?ver=1.6.0'></script>
<script type='text/javascript' src='http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/themes/emag/assets/frameworks/waypoints/jquery.waypoints.min.js?ver=4.0.0'></script>
<script type='text/javascript' src='http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/themes/emag/assets/frameworks/cycle2/jquery.cycle2.js?ver=2.1.6'></script>
<script type='text/javascript' src='http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/themes/emag/assets/js/evision-custom.js?ver=4.9.4'></script>
<script type='text/javascript' src='http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/themes/emag/js/skip-link-focus-fix.js?ver=20151215'></script>
<script type='text/javascript' src='http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/_inc/build/twitter-timeline.min.js?ver=4.0.0'></script>
<script type='text/javascript'>
/* <![CDATA[ */
var newsletter = {"messages":{"email_error":"The email is not correct","name_error":"The name is not correct","surname_error":"The last name is not correct","privacy_error":"You must accept the privacy statement"},"profile_max":"20"};
/* ]]> */
</script>
<script type='text/javascript' src='http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-content/plugins/newsletter/subscription/validate.js?ver=5.2.3'></script>
<script type='text/javascript'>
/* <![CDATA[ */
var SlimStatParams = {"ajaxurl":"http:\/\/backlinesoccer.com\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php","extensions_to_track":"pdf,doc,xls,zip","outbound_classes_rel_href_to_not_track":"noslimstat,ab-item","ci":"YTo0OntzOjEyOiJjb250ZW50X3R5cGUiO3M6NDoicG9zdCI7czo4OiJjYXRlZ29yeSI7czo5OiI4LDIsNSwyOTAiO3M6MTA6ImNvbnRlbnRfaWQiO2k6MTE3NjY7czo2OiJhdXRob3IiO3M6MjU6IkJhY2tsaW5lIFNvY2NlciBUYWtlYXdheXMiO30=.8376cc8c59702c7a31d2752841aaaf87"};
/* ]]> */
</script>
<script type='text/javascript' src='http://cdn.jsdelivr.net/wp/wp-slimstat/tags/4.7.5.3/wp-slimstat.min.js'></script>
<script type='text/javascript' src='http://backlinesoccer.com/wp-includes/js/wp-embed.min.js?ver=4.9.4'></script>
<script type='text/javascript' src='https://stats.wp.com/e-201807.js' async='async' defer='defer'></script>
<script type='text/javascript'>
	_stq = window._stq || [];
	_stq.push([ 'view', {v:'ext',j:'1:5.8',blog:'114886574',post:'11766',tz:'-5',srv:'backlinesoccer.com'} ]);
	_stq.push([ 'clickTrackerInit', '114886574', '11766' ]);
</script>
</body>
</html>