NWSL Matchweek 20 Recap: Handicapping the Playoff Push | Ashley Sanchez for USWNT? | Attacking Third

0:00Hey, everyone. What is not welcome into attacking third presented by CarMax shop by and sell your way want to drive CarMax alongside McCalls or Bony. I'm Lisa Carl and sorry, I was just dancing to our A3 music when we came on McCall feeling it on this Sunday night. Gotta let that flow for your veins, you know, it's like a midnight night out. I'm so happy. All right now. Thank you, everyone for joining us and you know what shout out to Paul Brown. I love his little joke. Good morning. I mean, good night. Hello. So good. What we do is, you know, the midnight hour. It's still still night for now. 1115 Eastern time. We're going live right after the Seattle San Diego wave match finished. We will have a third joining us to our Nangely, but she was on the call for that game. So we're given her a minute. You can't wait to see her. I'm going to jump on to this

1:00call with an N-channel about it. Right now. You already get up the terrible twos and Lisa sounds like you're going to be dealing with those at some point in your near future. Oh, you mean it used to this, okay? Oh, what call you're the sweetest? Yes. Yes. Yes. As Barry did. Has the N-hour expecting pregnant? Really jazzed about it. It's a good one. I think this is the first time I've been on A3. In like the week since I've like, you know, put that out there. So you need to rest and still. Welcome everyone to the new news. To the new news. Well, thank you, MacGal. You're the best. You had a busy weekend this weekend. You were on calls. So we're going to dive into all of it where we got NWSL match week 20 that we are talking about. Recaps, take ways from the weekend. We're going to dive into the shield race in the playoff push because, man, things have changed. Things have absolutely changed. Plus our team of the week, as we always do, stick around. Are we going to get a special in the game? We're going to get a special interview from a player. We always try for you guys on Sunday night. We'll see who we

2:00get on tonight. But yeah, it was it was a good week. I'm going to call you were busy. You were on a bunch of calls. Great job this weekend, my friend. On the big CBS game. It was so good to hear from you. It was fun. Importantly. Thank you. It honestly on site. I mean, being in Providence Park, as you know, that stadium is just like roaring in your chest. It's almost hard to focus a little bit. You're like, can you jump ahead phones a little bit? I can't hear. But the ooz and the ooz and every little moment, they're so invested in just like it's it's tangible. You can taste like how important it is and what a big game it always sets up to be. And then when you have spirit playing Portland at Providence Park, I know you circle and highlight that. The being of the year is one of the top matches in my opinion. So it was. I was blessed. It was fun. And it did not disappoint with with the way it ended and three goals. Yeah, it was fun. And then the first one was the first one. The first one was the first one. Number one, verse number two as well or number two verse. Yeah, yeah, dropped a little bit. But like they basically it's like top of the table

3:00teams with Washington and Portland. It was Sophia Wilson in the first half for Portland because she got the long goal and then Washington stormed back with two unanswered to steal Washington's spirit's first ever away win at Portland in 15 visits, which is insane, but truly a tale of two halves. And this one I felt like Washington finally woke up in the second 45 minutes. Macaw, the whole first 45, I was like, can we do anything Washington? It was all Portland. You're not wrong. I feel like the spirit almost looked insecure for the first half and they kind of got away with it to head into the locker room at halftime, only being down one nail. And then they completely came out and all they needed was like a little something to poke the bear once Trinity Robin got going, when she switched to the right hand side, it was like, oh boy, here comes the spirit again. And it was only a matter of time. You know, they've kind of suffered in their last five matches. And they're too good of a team. We know that where it's just going to

4:00continue and they're going to flop it and let it go of that at the season. That was never going to happen to the spirit. We knew that they were going to wake up at some point and they were going to wake up better. And now they've learned little details that need to clean up. This little stretch of, you know, kind of struggling for five games has only been a little bit more difficult. And so, you know, you know, the only made them more astute, more aware, more tight and more of a difficult opponent to be. And when they came back, and let me just say this, 10 straight results at home this season for the Portland Thorns have not been beaten in record all season at home, the Portland Thorns. And here come the Washington spirit in September and give them not only their first loss at home, the first time the spirit has ever been beaten in the beginning of the year. And it's been a little bit more difficult to be beaten at home in years. And to come from behind after an awarded penalty like, is that could deflate you, right? Lisa? You know

5:02as a player. You're the last five games, you're like, oh my God, we're losing our way. And to do it at Providence Park, McCall, there I saw a stat that Washington spirit's first shot of the game. What is that? I can't. Like, so you think, wow, the cards are just against us. You know you left a really fight against these things in your mind. Like, oh, wow, maybe we are going down. It's not our time. But they battled against that man. They rallied together. They figured out a way to get it done. And to speak to their mentality, their togetherness, the way that they just always find a way to get a result. And that's why they're competing for the shield. This is huge. The win for Washington spirit because it does jump them, of course, the three points up, but right on the heels of Gotham who are in first place. I want to just ask a question to you about Portland. Did it expose this second half any weaknesses of the thorns that other teams could exploit moving forward? Or is it so much so much to what I'll say to get it? Big time. And that's a good question. I have to commend

6:02Portland because they have definitely increased their defensive structure, mentality, togetherness, organization. It was a big problem in the first half of the season that they were just leaking into many goals and they just didn't have together. They have put a lot of emphasis. Speaking to Robert, speaking to the players, defending, defending, defending, denying box entries, denying opportunities on goal. They were stellar in their defending today for the first probably 65 to 70 minutes. But you realize how much they rely on Sophia Wilson. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. With as we Morgan having a diet in my game, tear it down, and I'm not sure if you're able to get it out of my game, terror, rud, always double triple teaming her, denying her the ball, not letting her run it in behind, which is one of her strengths. When you take that away from them, that's where you realize. Yeah, it's from back to front with Portland. It's if they can win the ball in the defending half and then play, you know, a quick transitional ball over the top to Sophia Smith,

7:03Wilson, that's their best chance. But when that's taken away. They just need more dynamics in their attack. Yeah. Patriot Jordan had a shot off the post. There were some good ones. You know what, McCall, we need a little bit more dynamism on this show. Let's bring Jordan and she's with us. She's joining us live from a broadcast call. Hey, Jordan. Welcome. Yeah. Yeah. It's great to see you guys. I think it should have to be if it's the player that you say their wrong name. You have to be able to get it out of the way. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. They're wrong name. You have to pay as much as their number is. So nine. I think it's $9, Nicole. That's actually a deal. I was honestly going to finish myself and say 77 have to do everything in sevens. So okay. Okay. Okay. So that's one word. Yeah. Are you already home? Nicole. No, I'm still the background. I know Oh, my God. Lisa said the same thing. I'm like, No, I'm still in Portland. I just try to make myself happier

8:03when I'm traveling every I love that for you. Thank you. Jordan, we're so happy to have you with us because we're talking games. We're talking the shield race at the top of the table because this win for Washington spirit 2-1 over Portland gives them three points, which is huge in the shield race because it jumps them just within biting distance of Gotham at the top of the table. Two points behind Gotham, mainly because Gotham fell at the weekend to Denver. Three, Nill, it snaps Gotham's 10-game winning streak with this shut out win. Gotham has four losses, all season long. Two of them come at the hands of Denver summit and expansion team who started this game, guys. So fired up. They had a goal in the opening three minutes or so off a corner. It ultimately gets called back, but that was the moment when I was like, oh man, Denver is here to play. They are not here to mess around. McCall is Denver, one of the better expansion teams that we have seen in recent

9:08NWSL years. Jordy, shout out, shout out. No, honestly, I have been highly impressed from the very beginning of the season. Just, I guess the best thing I can say about them is how well balanced their roster is. Like, they knew how to put a competitive roster together to have an immediate impact. They knew that they needed domestic players that are experienced that know this league very well. They knew that they needed international flair. They knew that they needed youth that is unexpected. They knew that they needed strength in the anchor of, you know, central spine and their goalkeeping, their center back, their midfield and one solid striker. They knew that they needed energy and creativity in the flanks. I cannot say enough about how the synergy of the roster really just has every element that you would need to survive in an NNFL season. And you have to give credit to Kurt Johnson, right? A guy that has known this league for so long

10:12and has built McCall some teams that you know very well. And so he was able to do that with Denver and it is starting to pay off because you know that this is a long season and it takes a while for teams to mesh. We see that with teams that are even have been together for years and years and years. It takes months for them to understand and establish relationships. And then you add in players like Yamamoto coming in, you add in a player like heaps who's coming in. Even a player like Kusler who started off so well but has never played anywhere outside of Germany and now has gone through a little bit of that blip where things weren't going well. Now she's playing back to the level that you would expect of her because she had to work through a little bit of that. It has been a really interesting build in Denver and it just feels like there's also something different cooking at that Centennial stadium. I mean it is cooking because you are in the sun if it is a day game. There is all exposure there. I will tell you that. But it feels like there is

11:13a real sense of pride for the summit saying this is our house. Like this is our owners have put in a lot of money for this. Rob Cohen sitting center every single game there in his family and everybody that is on that ownership team saying hey we built this so you guys could succeed. And it feels like they're saying all right let's go succeed. Denver did that because this performance was you know stellar from them. But in terms of the shield race, this almost stops Gotham in their tracks. A team that so many people thought were unstoppable at this point. But it makes it really tight at the top. So Gotham 45 points, Washington spirit 43 points. And then from there it trickles down Washington right there on the heels of Gotham at the top of that shield race. It is a good one that we have at the top. We're going to talk about the playoff push, some teams that made a great run. But we're coming off Seattle, San Diego's. We're going to take a quick break and we've got a very special interview joining us next after this.

12:24I love that BB that you mentioned to shut out because for you as a Thunderback, that's pretty much your job right. Keep a clean sheet and defend with your life even if it's not going your way just finding a way to not let that ball across the white line is your fifth season now with the Seattle rain. For me, you are super standing out. Last year, I thought you should have been in contention for one of the best Thunderbacks in the league for sure. You're really coming into your game into your element. How does it feel to be a leader and a high performer on the Seattle rain right now and putting yourself in playoff contention today? It's really exciting. I think for me coming into the cheer, there was like a lot of internal negotiation about how I felt like I could lead because I know what I want as a player, but that's certainly not the universal experience. So just finding out what makes this team take and how I can insert myself and be beneficial to the people around me and whatever capacity I can be. It's been really cool. I think it's pushing outside my comfort zone to maybe make deeper relationships than I otherwise would have

13:30with the team at large. I just think we have such a good group. We're so fun. We're so committed. It's a really exciting place to be. Phoebe, I echo that. I think this has been your best year. Do you think it's been your best year? Thank you. I don't know. My best years have to come. He's in the headband. Is it the sense I had band that you've got going on? It could be the sense I had band. Yeah. I have a question because I just called the game and Laura Harvey is on her feet, most of this game. Can you hear when you're out there? Can you hear everything that she's saying or what's that like when you see your coach just paste in the sideline? I can't hear. Like in the first half when I was weak side, I couldn't hear but second half I heard her. And if she wants me to hear all of her, that's hilarious. That's hilarious. If she definitely does, she's probably fired up back for this win. Sorry, big time. She was very excited. She loves being in San Diego. I think

14:36honestly, is our record against San Diego our best record against any team? And that was a great performance. But we rock against San Diego. Okay, so Joel, you'll that and you kind of embody that. You're like as soon as you land, you're like, this is our place to shine. I don't know. I know yeah, like going to San Diego, I always feel confident about that game. But there's always teams like that. Like I don't know. I'm not going to say it. I don't want to give away who I don't but you know what I mean? Like when you're in like I feel like there's there's definitely teams where you're like, yeah, I think we have their number and it doesn't really matter what changed. This is just a good matchup for us. Yeah. Talk about your role specifically in this game because it was different. You guys were up a player for the majority of the game, but you were getting you were getting pulled out a lot into and you were stepping a lot. What was your thoughts as San Diego was in possession? How do you feel like you managed this one personally from that position? Yeah. I think it's I think we like kind of lost our aggression a little bit. When they went down

15:41a player, it was like we were up a man. So like we didn't need to be as aggressive mentality. Maybe a little bit. So I think from my perspective, I was trying to make sure that like if that ball did make it to their frontline, then I was going to be aggressive and step in and deny any central opportunity because I mean they're dangerous from away further outside of the 18 than any other team they'll lead probably. So just getting bodies and organizing. It was a lot of organization because they weren't in like a traditional structure or like what we have planned for in the week. So just making adjustments on the fly a lot was the game plan today. Yeah, but you're good at that Phoebe. Clearly like you can actually see that and that's what makes you a leader and a veteran in this week. I want you to be able to put some love on your team because Maddie Mercado, she gets this goal and she has two goals that an assist when you guys are playing at home, but that goal was number 500 on the season in NC West. How cool is that? Like what? It's fun. It's fun. It's fun. It's fun. It's fun. It's fun. That's me. How cool is it to watch like

16:44the Maddie Dalin Maddie Mercado partnership that you get to see every day in training and then in front of you at games? Like not that fun in training. They burn me all the time. So fortunately, Maddie Dalin, I don't go ahead too much, but they're so good. I think it's like that thing that like football could just say like iron sharp and sharp and sire and they're just always bringing the best. Both of them are absolute work courses in practice and games doesn't matter. Yeah, they're the best teammates and then they're so supportive. Like Maddie and Dee is always like one of the first people I come up to after the game to celebrate with. We just have like a good relationship that way and I think they're both just people who want to keep pushing the club forward. I think like everybody's so not complacent right now or really really trying to find that next level all the time and that can be exhausting sometimes. So like when you have everybody on board like that, it really helps divide the load. I'm glad you said that because I wanted to ask you like if you were to say as a team right now, what is like a motto or a theme that you guys are really

17:46honing in on our trying to embody that you're really like making your message to drive you forward and you know just be so that you can be your best selves and achieve the maximum that you can this season. I think one from the beginning of the season that definitely stuck with me was you're the ones who we've been waiting for. Like everybody in the soccer was everybody that we need to win to championship and maybe we don't have the star power of Gotham but we're a damn good team and when we are firing on all cylinders and our chemistry is there, it's it can be really exciting. So I love that one. That is so right. Yeah, after the big game, we talked to me official and she said we're the best team in NWSL and you have to have that type of belief in each other and what you just said, like we have everything we need. You guys are now sitting above the playoff line still. That last playoff spot is coveted but what can this team do? You think you can get all the way to

18:49a spot where you're hosting a playoff game? Yeah. Not worried about it. Is that the goal right now? Yeah. I mean, I don't want to take the shield off the table, yeah. Yeah. We have to finish our shield conversations. It's Phoebe, that's like such an awesome mentality to have. Like is that something that you talked a little bit about it but like is that just how you are as a player and an athlete? Or is that like what you guys are talking about day in and day out that we can do anything right now? Um, I think it's it's a trained mentality within the within the club house. I think that um, mentality is definitely something that we keep coming back to and that we want to home because at the end of the day, like you can control so much with your mind, like how you perceive a situation is entirely um, it's up to you. So you can make a bit what you want and I think that we have a pretty acute understanding of that. Okay, so seems like the team is like all about it and I love

19:51that. That you're here with us and we'll get back to you. So what are some of your personal goals that you want to achieve the season or just for the remainder of your career? Um, I think a mindset shift I've taken within like last year and a half or so is you guys know who Rachel Interkin is? She's like my favorite person right now. She's so cool. She wanted to look at another 250. It's an old dramatic. But like her tagline was um, I want to like who I am when things get hard and that's kind of just a my goal is I want to like who I am when things get hard. I want to walk away from a game where I'm getting battered and know that I still put everything out there that I possibly could and I I didn't lose that like aspirational mindset because for me, I think I went through like a long period where um, it was so easy to like be so hard on myself because I thought that was like what was going to make me better and sure I'm sure it did. But um, it was a little too ruthless at times. So I think refringing that mindset has been super beneficial to me

20:55and that's pretty much all I think about right now. Wow. I love that. So well showing because you're rocking it. You could be the inspirational speaker. That was that was awesome. Thank you Phoebe. Congrats on the dub. Congrats on the shut out. Keep climbing the season. We're excited to see you in Seattle. Keep climbing that table. So go on. Go get it. Thank you guys so much. Yeah, thanks for hanging with us Phoebe. Oh, that was awesome. I mean, guys, I have chills after that. I was going to run a alternate on also the runs 250 miles. No, I, that's well, we did like every season, but you did. Yes, that's true. No, but that's why they're performing right when you have a leader like that on the team that has that mentality and resources to always refer back to and like never waver is like it does matter when you have veterans like that on the team for sure. Yeah, and I love that she was just like, we're not out of the shield race. Doesn't matter. I mean, they're not

21:56like point wise. They're not because the way it sits right now, Gotham is still at the top in first place. If we look at the shield race 45 points, they've seven matches remaining. Washington spirit also seven games left 43 points, just two points behind them. And when you look at their schedule, according to Opta, which is the stats break down up at all, it says that these are two of the easier schedules in NWSL right now, which is crazy to think about. And some other teams have some really tough schedules ahead. I think Angel City's schedule is pretty dang tough because they go on the road a lot coming up, but there's a lot still on the table in terms of the shield. It's really anyone's game right now, but this weekend, we also got to see a big playoff push make a difference, right? Seattle, they jumped up to eighth. They're now in that playoff spot. Kansas City. They're in seventh. Angel City picked up a win. They're in ninth. Denver picked up a

22:57win in tenth. When you look at this, McCall and all these teams that are in flux, who's going to steal some of those last spots in the top in the top E to get a playoff position. Well, this weekend was like the teams that could have ran away with it dropped it. Like the teams that you expected to win these games get these three points and just kind of sail away left that hanging fruit for everybody to catch up. And yes, that's what we love about this league. But also, it's like, well, now who is the boss of this league? Because there's been opportunities where people have been able to exercise their dominance and have not been able to pose those rains. Whereas the last two seasons, we've seen Kansas City say, no, you ain't catching me, you ain't touching me, Orlando, you ain't catching me, ain't touching me. So this season, Gotham, China is right there. And then they kind of dropped that status and they let someone else in and and leak it and still points from them.

23:58So this is the first season in a few years that we haven't seen that bossy dominance amongst the league. And that's why it keeps us guessing even more. And that's what's fun. It makes it so fun. Our Jordan, what about you? Some of those teams that are, you know, between seventh and 10th, some of those bubble teams, who's getting in? What do they have to do to get in to? Yeah. What's interesting, if you look at the top seven teams, at least I don't know which of those teams aren't going to be in. Because you look at all those top seven teams and you think all of those teams are playoff teams in this league with the way that they're performing. So I think the question is, which of the teams underneath them are going to outplay those teams above? I don't think you would count out Denver right now. I don't think you would count out this Seattle team. And I've been talking about Seattle for a few months. And even though we just heard it from Phoebe McClearnand and we just watched their game, that was not a great performance for them. But they were up a player for almost the entire game for 77 minutes. And they couldn't find the dagger. They couldn't

25:05find another goal. But what they did find is the ability to defend as a unit, even though they gave up opportunities to San Diego. Only there was only three that really threatened, I would say. San Diego had most of the possession, but Seattle didn't didn't stretch their lines too much. They stayed pretty compact. They said, all right, if we're going to go, it's going to be in a transition moment if it's not on defend. And that has been the brand of Laura Harvey is it all relies on the defense. And I just feel like the Seattle team will find them themselves in the playoffs. I don't know if I feel the same as Phoebe that they could win the shield. But prove me wrong, Seattle. Prove me wrong. I will say, I will say, Jordi, on that same topic, but a little bit of a sprinkle ad is that I have not won seam Seattle dominate a match this season. But they're still good. We're the team of finding a way to get it done. And they all play off McCullough.

26:07That matters. Yeah. In playoffs, but they have to get there first. They're next several games are very winnable for them. They are home against Bay at Angel City Denver will be a challenge. I do think Boston, North Carolina, Chicago, Utah, Orlando. This is doable. This is very doable for Seattle to get in there. But that's the thing you look at Denver schedule too. I like they could get in there. And now that's two spots that have to take away from someone else that's at the top of the standings. I love this league so much guys. I cannot get over it. There's just so much that happens weekend and week out. And then you have individual players that explode. And it's been a ticking time bomb in North Carolina courage with Ashley Sanchez. And we've seen her explode and blow up other teams. But this weekend, Ashley Sanchez broke a scoring record. She now has 18

27:08goals on the year with her hat trick in North Carolina courage is six no win over the Chicago stars. That is now a single season goal scoring record by an American. She actually hit that with her first goal and then said, let's go get two more. She is running away with the golden boot race. And it also looks like she could very easily catch up to Temo Shawingas, NWSL record of 20 goals in a single season Jordan because she's only two away from that. And we're only in week 20. You guys, Maclin told us at the beginning of the year she's going to score 20 goals. He did. He said that. He instilled that belief in her. And when I talk to him this week, he said, if I don't believe that in the in my players, how can they believe that in themselves? And he takes no credit for what Ashley Sanchez has done and how he has unlocked this potential in her. He said, it is all her. But she had that belief because he told her that she could do it, that it was doable, that he believed that she could do it. And I think she's going to blow it out of the water.

28:09How many give us I think she scores 22 goals. At least, I'm doing 23. I'm doing 23. 23. I love that. I believe that. I'm more. Okay. So she's having the season of her life. What's she going to look like next season? And McCullough, forget about next season for a second. Let's just appreciate what we've got. I love consistency in players. I think it's the most viable thing. Well, yeah, you were the most consistent player to ever play. Let me bring it in. Let me bring it back a little bit more. Next national team camp in October, next month, is she getting called in or not? I think she has to. Yes. She and how much are we going to be an uproar and challenge the system if she doesn't? How do we challenge it? Because I'm sure we all will. I take to the internet. No, she should. He has said that she's watching this league and she wants people to perform. And how can you not? How can you have a season like Ashley Sanchez

29:15is having with the consistency? McCullough, that she's had over the first 20 weeks of this season. Continuously scoring, putting the team on her back, doing it in a variety of ways. It's not all one dimensional football that Sanchez is playing. It is contributing in a variety of factors. It's stepping up even to take penalties. It's one V1s in behind. It shots from distance. It's cheeky little movements in the box. She's doing it all. How can you not call her into a US women's match? And Lisa, if she does nothing else from here on out, does not score another goal. She still should be in the MVP candidate race. She single-handedly got her team into the playoffs. Because traditionally in the past, for less than years, in around 38 points is a guaranteed playoff spot. They already have 39. So they are pretty much in. And it's because of her. They are at third right now in the standings based on results this weekend. If they've never got another point or another goal, they are pretty much in because of Ashley Sanchez. That is just phenomenal

30:17to my brain. Yeah. MVP ranking absolutely at the top of it. It's been so fun to talk to McLean about her. We all had the privilege of doing that. Great shout to bring up some of those combos, Jordan. And he has been very candid about it too, saying like, I told her she's going to have to work hard. And even in the off season, she worked on her left foot so much. So she just knew this is going to come in handy. They switch her to the left side. She's having a career year. So fun. Ashley Sanchez. I'm so proud of her too. Just like, like we've watched her for so long in this league and struggle and then the trade to North Carolina. It was like, what are you doing to our Rodman Sanchez partner? She's thriving. She's serving. That's why it's even more special, right? Because she didn't have the raw, raw behind her and all the resources and off season training and and national team camps. She did this on her own. Yeah. And I think she does. She's on her own.

31:17If she doesn't get called in, I hope that it doesn't shake her at all or rattle her at all. Because this is not like, she has just been consistent. And McCall, I think I'm glad you called the consistency because we've asked for this forever, right? In her previous five years in the league, 19 goals. She has 18 in one season right now. And nothing should be able to shake that or break that or make it any less of what it is. National team call up or not. Should she get the call up? Yeah. But you know what? It is so fun to watch. And she looks like she's having fun. And really, that's all we want. That's all we want. So we want. We just want fun. We just want to. You want to. I forget my notes to. Ashley Sanchez, keep crushing it. We are loving watching you. Loving seeing you score. And congratulations on being the single season, holding the single season goal scoring record by an American with 18 goals. You are on the heels of 10.

32:19I'm showing those 20 goals season record. You are right there. My friend. Go get it. Let's see. Well, Ashley Sanchez, be on our team of the week. I wonder about that one. We're going to take a break. A three team of the week coming out next. Yes, I love it. All right. Let me take us through our front line and our forwards. It had to be Ashley Sanchez with a hat trick on the weekend to give our team a huge six-null-win over Chicago stars plus 18 goals on the year. She said, so record most goals scored by any American. She said that at 16 and then said, okay, I'll go get a couple more. 18 goals on the year for San Chito. You are in the best 11. Absolutely. I'm also going to go with Barbara Banda in this one, because right on the heels of that golden boot race, a brace in this game tonight for Orlando

33:21and their 3-1 win over Houston plus and assist. And guys, Barbara Banda's first NWSL penalty attempt and goal. How crazy is that to think about? A little. She has scored so many goals. None of them from 12. Usually, Mark's a hit. I'm trying to think, why is that not the case? There's been other people on the pitch. Barbara Banda, congrats on your first pen. You did it, my friend plus a brace. My last one, this one was tricky. There's a lot of good players to go for. But I am going to do Yazuki Yamamoto from Denver Summit. She had the opening goal for Denver in their amazing 3-0 win over Gotham FC. And it's now backed back games with a goal for Yamamoto. She had an assist also a match ago. But this opening goal was so insane. The way that she is flying forward at full speed and somehow just like buries us into the back of the net, it set the tone for Denver and what they wanted to do throughout this game. And it was a huge goal for Yamamoto. I'm so happy for her and

34:26happy for Denver on that big win. So those are my three forwards. Thoughts? Love. I like that. I like that. Great. Yazmi and Ryan was up there with the goal and assist, but you know Yamamoto. What's the thought and intention in there to like, yeah, I like that a lot. I did. I did. All right, thanks. We'll have a round all over the whole over the NWSL. I'm going to try to do the same, but we'll see because I do feel like you just mentioned a Denver summit player. If you beat the shield runners right now, three to nothing, there's probably a midfielder in there that deserves to be shouted out. But I am not going to lie to you because I had a game right when this game happened. Did not watch the game. So I have no idea what how the midfield played if midfielder from the summit should be in this list. So we're not going with it. I'm going to go with some of the players that I did see play. The first one of those being Kroibatune on Friday night, she gets her 10th assist on the season. Guys, remember when she won midfielder and Ricky of the year, 10 assists season for Kroibatune. Five goals for her. She's

35:29sitting out four in 10 right now. And yeah, it's really just found her flow as a play. She's must must watch TV. She really is. Yeah. In Kansas City. So Kroibatune is the first on that list. I'm going to go with Betty scoring her in her game with the Washington sphere. Her first NWSL goal. It's a game winner. McCall, you probably can talk a little bit more about this, but it does feel like this is a rightful inclusion in our team of the week, getting such a big result on the road in Portland. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Her timing on that run, entering the box on Trinity's assist. And she was clean and tidy the whole game. She keeps the ball real tight. She's technical. She's smooth. Doesn't have a lot of explosion or agility or pace and power to break beyond, but she does it with her skill and her deception. She's going to be a fun. And she's tricky too. She

36:30does that flare that makes the Kroibatune. She'll be fun for this week. And she's so young. I talked to Adrian Gonzalez and I before about bringing her in. And he was like, she's young. She's only getting better and better. So she's someone that will grow with the league that we get to watch. It's going to be fun. Yeah. Okay. And then I need help on this last one because I was going to go with McCutchen. She gets a goal or land on needed win. She gets a goal. She got a goal a couple weeks ago as well against Washington as a midfielder. But then I'm thinking of results on the weekend. And I'm thinking Boston had a big result, you guys. Yeah. To go away to Utah and get a result. I'm thinking Annie Karrick could be on this list and it could be shifting over that direction. What do you guys think? That was a crazy result. Someone's got to be shattered out. Yeah. Boston was crazy. Boston was crazy. I don't know. But also like Orlando, like they fire their coats this week and somehow. She goes out and picks up a win. Like to me, I think they're

37:31at either side could be crazy. That Boston you talking was a little insane though. Like the old goal for Boston, it was like ricochets off the post or like there was it off the post shot and then a question from the defender. It was like a little. Okay. So let's go with we feel good about McCutchen then. Yeah. I feel good about McCutchen. Okay. We'll go with McCutchen. But Boston, we see you big win on the road. We see you like that. For sure. All right. I like your three Jordan. I like that. All right. Call bring us home. Okay. I get to bring home the defending and goalkeepers. Evelyn Schorz, Angel City, a defender scoring two goals in one game. Let's go, sis. In my 10 minutes. Yes. And I just love the way like her left foot is so smooth. Like she can shoot it low and hard in traffic. Gets herself busy in there. So pivotal to get that win because Angel City's in that right and that sensitive line. They need to get up there. So for barely sophomore in the season, pulling up to golden a big moment. Good for her.

38:34Okay. This is where I got tricky for me because honestly you guys, the Washington Spirit Center Box both of them were so good today. You're going against the top striker in the league that has the most shots created and the most shots on target. And Sophia Wilson looked like just another striker in the league today. She was not able to get going. She didn't have any quality chances. Yes, she scored a penalty. As me Morgan was so brilliant today. Shutting down Sophia, not giving her a lot of space to breathe. And then terror red scoring a goal and helping defend Sophia Wilson. I mean, basically the spirit broken to the Thorns Castle. It broke down the doors. Got past their moat. Defended off the guards. Stole three points and bailed. Like it was phenomenal. The first team this season to beat thorns at home in their fortress in their castle, the Washington Spirit. They deserve so much love today. But they're defending and

39:35getting it done. Starting down Sophia Wilson is really what gave them the opportunity to win that game. As you read, Ria scoring a goal has to be in there. Just, you know, everyone's like, was it a shot? But she said, no, the thing about that is yes, it was on a corner, but she knew where to put it. She knew where to put it, where it's going to be that searching area where the goalkeeper can't come out. It's in that area that's sensitive. And it's supposed to curl towards golf. Nobody touches it. That's kind of the vibe. So she's been dynamite with her services in the last three years anyway. And then I have an honorable mention, you guys. Calzada, the rookie for Portland Thorns, she was neck and neck with Trin all game. And that's why Trinney Robin and the second half had to switch to the right because she couldn't have her way with Calzada. Trin was very, very quiet in the first half. And she did not enable herself to get that assist and actually come alive in the game until she switched the right because she tried to get away from Calzada. Calzada was very, very good today. Very good. So can I have an honorable mention? Yeah.

40:37Ryan Williams, you guys, she gets a goal. First on the year, I don't think she'll get to assist, but she gets the assist to Ashley Sanchez on the Ashley Sanchez header goal, like with the heck. And she provides the cross that then gets deflected and Chino me ends up scoring it. You got to put Ryan Williams in there. Just for an, I'm good with an honorable mention, but she deserves it. Totally true because she's so unsung as well and she just doesn't need a tension. Or she's just like a very humble, like easygoing person. So for her to like get that limelight, we should be like Ryan Williams today. You're right. She deserves it. Yeah, that's a good one. Four spaces. I know. It's so hard. It's so hard. So who are you going with? Who did you decide you're going to end up with? Shores, Rud, Morgan Rodriguez. Honorable mention goes on. Okay, cool. I like you. What about your goalkeeper? The keeper. That double save. Kept them in the game. Like, yeah, that's a good one. Portland was already one zero. She had this

41:39enormous moment where she made the save and got all the way across, blocked that shot from Kelsalda was freaking going up or V. And that moment was what gave that energy to the spirit. After that, the game changed. All of a sudden, they were charging for getting our opportunities on goal. And then that's when they that's when they won. Yeah, that the difference in a good goalie and a great goalie is like that one moment where you make a big save that changes the game. And yeah, all the seven others are really good. But when it comes down to that one shot that could have changed everything, that's the difference. That's the difference. I like that shot from a driver. That's a good one. Coach of the week. Anyone have any nominees for this? I have one. Yeah, I love your, let's see. Maclind for, you know, doing what he's done with North Carolina and picking up six goals on this one, getting the best out of Ashley Sanchez. But putting them in third place in the standings right now. Huge. Who are we going to pick, though? Because Cushing, beating the number one team in the league. And then, Zalas becoming the most winning

42:44as coach for the Washington spirit club. Yeah, rock, paper, scissors. That's a hard, Cushing's pretty good. Yeah, I think Cushing, I mean, it's hard because you got it last week, right? Because of that big victory that the summit had. But this is more of an emphatic win. Because yeah, the stars are right now. And it might be good to get the details right. It's awesome. You have to. Yeah. Yeah. All right, let's go. Nick Cushing, our coach of the week. Captain of the week, I have an honorary mention. I want to throw out there for this one. Okay. We haven't mentioned anyone yet. So I know. I know. But I just want to throw one out there for my captain of the week. Boston forward, Gamboan off the bench scores the diving header to get the game winning goal. And that was Boston's first road win since July 15th. And they do it over a top team, one of the top four in the NWSL in Utah Royal. So I just, you know, super sub coming off

43:49the bench, diving header like Solajit for Gamboan, Solajit. Yeah. It's a good honorable mention. But nothing's going to beat what we just saw, Alisa. We just saw Ashley Sanchez not just say, hey, I'm going to be the record American goal scorer in NWSL history. I am going to do it times, you know, not just 16, not just 17. I'm going to get 18 goals and absolutely smash it. She's not done yet. It's going to be Sanchez, doesn't it? She gets her first ever hat trick. She never had a multi goal game in NWSL until this year. And that is her fifth multi goal game. I love that she was like, I'm playing Chicago. I'm going to eat. I'm good with Ashley Sanchez on this one. I think she deserves it too. I'm in on that one. McCall. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. All right, guys, we're going to our captain, Ashley Sanchez, for all that she's done. It's been so fun to watch her too. And you two, you guys are my captains.

44:53Thanks for hanging. Thanks for doing this with us. You guys have both had very busy weekends, calling a lot of games. It's been wonderful listening to the sweet sounds of Jordan and McCall on the broadcast. So thank you for blessing us with your thoughts on this Sunday night. And everyone, thanks for hanging with us live on YouTube on Galazzo Network. If you're listening as a pod, we so appreciate it. I do got to give a shout out to Paul Brown and met him this weekend. He is always in our chat, lively as ever, bringing the good vibes to A3. He's a big fan, Paul. Thanks for saying hi this weekend in Louisville. It was a pleasure to meet you. That's it. That does it. For our show tonight, thanks everyone for a great weekend and a great Sunday. We will see you on Thursday. We'll be back with more A3 breaking it all down ahead of week 21 in NWSL. For Phil McCall and Jordan, I'm Lisa. This was attacking third.

46:06Paramount Mountain. At Styrus and Gileus. Battle against the evil giant Death Ather. Better not be another miniboss. You better be the final one. Golden Axe. You series streaming September 16th. On Paramount Plus.