Dunn makes strong case for NWSL MVP

by Paul Kennedy @pkedit, Aug 2, 2015

If the NWSL means anything to the U.S. women's national team, Crystal Dunn will be in the squad when it takes on Costa Rica in its first post-Women's World Cup matches Aug. 16 and 19. Dunn, one of the last cuts from the U.S. Women's World Cup team, added three more goals to give her 12 in 14 games as her first-half hat trick -- the first hat trick in Washington history -- led the Spirit to a 3-1 win over the Houston Dash.

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In the 28th minute, Dunn scored after dribbling through two Dash defenders and beating goalkeeper Erin McLeod, who was injured on the play and had to be subbed. Seven minutes later, Dunn scored with the outside of her foot on a pass from Canadian Diana Matheson, and in first-half stoppage time the former North Carolina star completed her hat trick when she scored on a header off a corner from Christine Nairn.

The lone goal for the Dash came from Jessica McDonald as Carli Lloyd's string of seven games with at least one goal -- four in the Women's World Cup and three in the NWSL -- ended.

Christen Press and Beverly Yanez are Dunn's competition for NWSL MVP and the league's top scorer.

Press scored twice -- off passes from fellow U.S. World Cup teammate Lori Chalupny -- to give her eight goals in six NWSL goals and at least one goal in all three games since returning from the Women's World Cup, but for the second game in a row, the Chicago Red Stars saw a win slip away and had to settle for a 2-2 tie with FC Kansas City on Saturday night.

Yanez scored to move into second place behind Dunn in the NWSL scoring race with nine goals and midfielder Kim Little added a second goal as Seattle Reign FC extended its league winning streak to three games with a 2-1 victory over the Boston Breakers. The Reign opened up a three-point lead over the Red Stars, who have a game in hand.

TRIVIA. Dunn is four goals away from tying the single-season scoring record held by Scottish international Kim Little, who scored 16 goals for Seattle in 2014.