neat sh!t: nwsl week 6 edition

We here at The Neat Observers, Inc. have heard the rumblings and discourse. The allegations are that we may be too attack-centric, and as a result are missing opportunities to single out defensive neatery. After all, it’s an even bigger part of the game these days, as every player in modern systems must know how to operate in and out of possession.

We value our community, so rather than double down, we decided to humble our hearts and open our ears. After much soul seeking, we realized you were right, and therefore we needed to make it right.

Abby Smith was enjoying a renaissance at Gotham before a brutal challenge mangled her leg. It took her over a year to return to the pitch, and even longer to work her way back into a starting role. With Denver she’s not just starting, there’s an argument that she’s been their best player.

Saves like what’s above is why. Smith has blink-of-an-eye reflexes and reactions, and reads danger exceptionally well. This play starts from a poor back pass which gave Boston possession in Denver’s box. Smith reads it, retreats quickly, and isn’t even thrown off by the quick square ball to an open player.

The footwork of attackers is often highlighted in slow motion isolation shots of slick ball control and dribbling technique, but notice Smith’s feet here. Her heels are never planted, even as she squares her shoulders to make sure she’s always in line with the ball. Once the strike comes she’s able to leap at the ball, and get just enough of her fingertips on it to alter the trajectory and send it onto a keeper’s bestie, the post.

Am I already stretching the definition of ‘defender’? Please mind your business.

Anywhoodles, Emma Egizii, a rookie midfielder with 50 appearances for UCLA, subbed in for left back Tessa Dellarose in the tenth minute. Egizii had some ‘welcome to the NWSL’ moments, but delivered a moment of her own with this bit of filth on veteran center back Sam Hiatt.

I love when a nutmeg (erm, tunnel??) is premeditated. Egizii’s little ‘tee hee I’m going to dribble away from the box’ steps are delightful. They simultaneously lure Hiatt into a false sense of security and give Egizii time and separation. She uses it brilliantly to turn and face her defender, read her stance, and kick the ball between her legs.

The fluidity and singular motion of it all is deliciously cruel. So much so that I keep forgetting I’m writing and just watch the GIF loop [insert bigger number than you think] times.

Jordan Silkowitz has been a fun story. She played for Ohio State, then Iowa State, before being drafted 18th overall by Kansas City in 2023, immediately went on loan to Brisbane Rose where she started 19 matches. She was then traded to Bay, and ended up with the starting job after Katie Rowland retired in preseason last year.

Since, she’s been a solid starting goalkeeper int he league and has earned herself a callup to a senior USWNT camp in November last year. This is one of the things that I love so much about the NWSL. College stars jump into the league and sometimes their journey is linear, but often times it’s not. And because the league also has a bunch of well-known international talents, sometimes these players clash in competition and it’s amazing.

Kenza Dali has scored penalties in the World Cup. She’s an iconic player, with unquestioned skill that’s made her standout player for Lyon, PSG, multiple WSL clubs, and not San Diego Wavé. Her penalty here was a penalty she’s no doubt scored countless times—but not this time, not against Jordan Mf’n Silkowitz.

Dali picks the bottom corner to Silkowitz’s left, and puts spin on it so the ball would skip off the turf in front of the keeper just in case she dove the right way. Silkowitz read it, and the skip. Getting her hand down mid-dive to meet the ball an flicking the ball onto the post and out. It’s a brilliant save.

One of my favorite regular NWSL analysts is Jill Loyden. She usually don’t miss, and she had a good segment going a little bit bonkers over Sam Meza, which I loved. They noted her instincts and how much ground she covers, then focused on what’s becoming a trademark move: Meza straight up snatchin’ chains.

Usually defenders rely on positioning, a heavy touch or misplaced pass to break up play. Meza does that too, but she has a weapon in her arsenal that allows her to separate the player from the ball with a well-timed and sneaky leg lunge. Sometimes the ref calls it a foul (she had one in this game that was so not a foul, I was verklempt in my living room at the ref not taking into account the craft), but sometimes it’s so clean that there’s not even a suggestion of a foul.

I think this one might be one of her smoothest yet. Meza reads the next dribble, sticks her left foot in, snatches the chain, and sets the ball on her right foot so she can quickly dribble away from the crime scene. Chain snatchin at its finest. ■