Veronica Latsko’s Standout Performance Earns Player of the Week Nomination
This weekend, OL Reign ground out a solid 2-0 win over the Houston Dash to wrap up their three-game week. Forward Veronica Latsko led the charge for the Reign, scoring the team’s opening goal and assisting their second. For her incredible performance, she has been nominated for NWSL Player of the Week.
The forward’s go-ahead goal was scored in the 53rd minute of the match. Off a cross from forward Megan Rapinoe, Latsko beat all of Houston’s defenders in the center of the box to nod the ball past Jane Campbell in goal and put OL Reign up 1-0 in front of the home crowd.
With momentum in their favor, OL Reign pushed on, once again led by Latsko up top. This time, Latsko was the one serving the ball into the box. As she was carrying the ball wide, Latsko saw the opportunity to loft a cross into the box, perfectly placing the ball to find the head of forward Jordyn Huitema, who made no mistake directing the ball into the back of the net to double OL Reign’s lead in the 68th minute of the match.
Latsko’s goal marked her first of the 2023 season and her second consecutive goal scored against her former team. With a goal and assist in the match on Saturday, Latsko joined 10 other players, including fellow OL Reign forward Bethany Balcer, in accomplishing that feat this season. She also leads OL Reign in assists this year, with two.
After the match, Huitema had a lot to say about Latsko’s performance not only in this match, but every single time she steps on the field.
“Whether it's two minutes or 90 minutes, Ronnie shows up and I think it's her mindset and her work. Ronnie will grind a game out and everybody knows that. No matter if she hasn't played for a few games and she's in to play [90 minutes], she will play [90 minutes] and she will play it till the final whistle goes,” said Huitema.
“I think everybody has so much trust in her, including the staff, that I think it pays so much for her mindset and everybody knows that Ronnie will always be on. I haven't seen a game where [Latsko] is off, I have not. I genuinely haven't seen her come in and not try her best and you know that's what you're going to get. I think she's so consistent and I think that's why we have so much faith in her and I know that's why the staff have so much faith in her to come in no matter when we need her, at any point, she shows up,” Huitema added.
Latsko now has nine goals and six assists all-time, including two goals and two assists with the Reign and seven goals and four assists during her time with the Dash. Vote for Latsko in the NWSL’s Player of the Week poll on Twitter HERE.