To say that Washington Spirit forward Crystal Dunn is a having a good month would be an understatement. She is having a fantastic month. Dunn was named NWSL Player of the Month for August. This is the first time she has ever won the award and it is also the first time a Spirit player has earned the award. She can add it to the collection of NWSL Player of the Week awards.
Dunn, 23, scored six goals and assisted on another during the month. She currently has a five goal lead over Kim Little for the NWSL Golden Boot with 15.
She started the month off with a first half hat-trick against Houston Dash back on August 1st. She continued her goal scoring prowess with a goal during week 19 against the Chicago Red Stars. She was able to guide her team to a win against Chicago as she scored in stoppage time to give the Spirit a much needed win.
This past Sunday, she scored two goals to help her team secure a draw against the Portland Thorns. She scored her second goal of the match just seconds after Portland stormed back from a 2-0 deficit to take a 3-2 lead. He also recorded an assist in that match as she set up teammate Francisca Ordega to score the team’s first goal of the match just six minutes in.
The Spirit has one game left in the 2015 NWSL regular season and it is against the Seattle Reign. They currently sit in fourth place, but a win against Seattle and a loss or tie by the Red Stars will give them a second place finish and home-field advantage in the semifinal round of the NWSL playoffs. A tie or loss to Seattle will mean they will have to face off against Seattle the following weekend in Seattle.
The National Women's Soccer League Player of the Month is selected each month of the regular season by a selection of journalists that cover the league on a consistent basis.