Three members of the North Carolina Courage lead the way on the May Team of the Month, announced on Wednesday. They are joined by May Player of the Month Rachel Daly of the Houston Dash along with her teammate Kristie Mewis, Christine Sinclair and Lindsey Horan of Portland Thorns FC, Becky Sauerbrunn and Abby Smith of Utah […]

Three members of the North Carolina Courage lead the way on the May Team of the Month, announced on Wednesday. They are joined by May Player of the Month Rachel Daly of the Houston Dash along with her teammate Kristie Mewis, Christine Sinclair and Lindsey Horan of Portland Thorns FC, Becky Sauerbrunn and Abby Smith of Utah Royals FC, Ali Krieger of the Orlando Pride, and Steph Catley of Seattle Reign FC.The May Team of the Month was selected by the NWSL Media Association. [Youtube oembed has failed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nxmQmNNz5E]

GK: Abby Smith, Utah Royals FC

In May, Abby Smith earned three shutouts in four games played. She allowed just two goals in May, and made seven saves. Smith led Utah Royals FC to a 2-1-1 record on the month (3-2-5 overall) and helped her team earn their first win in franchise history on May 5.

D: Steph Catley, Seattle Reign FC

Steph Catley recorded assists in back-to-back games to help her team earn two wins this month. The Reign went 3-1-1 in May and Catley held down the defensive unit until missing the Reign’s final match of the month with an ankle injury. In the four games she played, she created eight chances, made four clearances, earned four interceptions, and won seven tackles.

D: Abby Erceg, North Carolina Courage

Abby Erceg led the Courage to another month undefeated and contributed a goal and an assist. The center back held down the backline, making 26 clearances and earning eight interceptions.

D: Becky Sauerbrunn, Utah Royals FC

Becky Sauerbrunn led Utah Royals FC to three shutouts in May. Utah Royals FC went 2-1-1 in the month and, in that time, Sauerbrunn had 21 clearances. Sauerbrunn also made 11 interceptions and earned three blocks.

D: Ali Krieger, Orlando Pride

The Orlando Pride went 3-1-1 in May thanks large in part to Ali Krieger’s ball service and efforts defensively on the flank. Krieger earned an assist in the Pride’s win against the Red Stars and made 15 clearances, 10 interceptions and seven blocks in the month. Krieger suffered a right medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury in her right knee during the Pride’s 5-3 win over the Red Stars and will miss the next 4-6 weeks.

M: Kristie Mewis, Houston Dash

Kristie Mewis scored two goals in May to help the Dash go 3-1-2. The midfielder took nine shots, created nine chances for her team, and won 15 tackles. Mewis started and played every minute for the the Dash until she went down with a knee injury in the Dash’s final game of the month against the Washington Spirit. Mewis will miss the rest of the season.

M: Lindsey Horan, Portland Thorns FC

In May, Lindsey Horan doubled her season goal tally, after finding the back of the net twice. The Thorns went 2-3-1 last month and Horan took 18 shots, seven of which were on target. The midfielder also created six chances for her team and made nine interceptions.

M: McCall Zerboni, North Carolina Courage

The midfielder earns back-to-back Team of the Month honors, having previously picked up the nod in April. In May, Zerboni had one goal and one assist to help the Courage keep their undefeated streak alive. Zerboni made 20 interceptions and won 16 tackles last month.

F: Rachel Daly, Houston Dash

The Dash forward was named Player of the Month after she scored four goals in six games, as the Dash went 3-1-2 in May. Daly also recently earned Player of the Week honors after leading the Dash to two wins in Week 9. Daly finished the month with nine shots on goal and 11 chances created. She played every minute of all six of Houston’s games in the month.

F: Christine Sinclair, Portland Thorns FC

Portland Thorns FC forward Christine Sinclair has scored six goals this season to lead the league. Sinclair added two of those goals in May and also added an assist. Sinclair created nine chances for her team and took 14 shots with six on frame.

F: Crystal Dunn, North Carolina Courage

Crystal Dunn had a busy month; from earning Week 8’s Player of the Week nod — for the seventh time in her NWSL career — to leading the Courage to a 4-0-1 record in May. Dunn had a goal and two assists last month and created 12 chances for her team. The forward was also named to April’s Team of the Month.