Paige Nielsen’s Goal-Line Clearance Nominated for Save of the Week

Jordan Viener
Washingtonspirit.com

Boyds, Md. (5/28/19) – Washington Spirit defender Paige Nielsen has been nominated for her first NWSL Save of the Week award for her outstanding goal-line clear against the Chicago Red Stars.

After Red Stars defender Arin Wright sent up a cross-field pass from the right flank, Spirit keeper Aubrey Bledsoe was able to get a hand on it to prevent the header, but the deflection fell to Red Stars midfielder Vanessa DiBernardo. DiBernardo shot the ball past Bledsoe for what would have been the Red Stars first goal of the game, but thanks to her excellent positioning and effort, Nielsen was able to head the ball off the line and to Spirit midfielder Meggie Dougherty Howard for the clear.

OFF. THE. LINE. #CHIvWAS // #SpiritFam pic.twitter.com/HIJZ4tZAgJ

— Washington Spirit (@WashSpirit) May 26, 2019

The Save of the Week competition is decided by a Twitter fan vote, you can vote for Nielsen’s save on twitter by clicking the link here.

Big saves from goalkeepers and defenders in Week 7.

It's time to vote for the #NWSL Save of the Week!

— NWSL (@NWSL) May 28, 2019

Thanks in no small part to Nielsen’s defensive effort, the Spirit are now tied for first place in the NWSL table with the Utah Royals.

The Spirit and Utah Royals FC will be facing off in a first-place clash this Saturday at the Maryland SoccerPlex. Kick-off is set for 7 p.m. ET with gate D & Fan Zone opening at 5:30 p.m. ET and Gate A will open at 6:00 p.m. [TICKETS]

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