Cascone’s XI: Spirit and Current skid, Heath honored, Sanchez and Silkowitz deserve awards
Week 18 saw some shocking results, lots of stoppage time play, and some early and late goals.
Here are 11 thoughts from the weekend, courtesy of Arianna Cascone, subbing in for Dan Lauletta this week. We’ll do this every Monday following NWSL match weeks. Some points will be factual, some will be opinion based. And some will just be random statements or observations.
I. Ashley Sanchez’s case for MVP is only getting stronger
Sanchez bagged a brace over the weekend, which put her in first place in the league’s Golden Boot race with 12 goals. She’s been in unreal form this season, and is the reason that North Carolina is a force to be reckoned with. I posted my thoughts about this on Bluesky after the game and following the rest of the weekend’s games, my feelings haven’t changed.
II. Boston’s ‘aggressive’ game-plan needs a reality check
The Boston Legacy can’t stop fouling. Over the weekend, the Bianca St. Georges committed a foul in the box late in stoppage time. Ashley Sanchez converted the penalty, and Boston left Cary, North Carolina with nothing to show for it.
That wouldn’t be the end of the world if it wasn’t so classic Boston. This team is leading the league in fouls per game (12.6), yellow cards (36), and tied with two other teams for the lead in red cards (3). Two of those three red cards are thanks to Sunday’s foul-committer herself, too, which is a rough look.
