Goal.com's WPS Player of the Week: Abby Wambach, Washington Freedom

A week ago, fans of the Washington Freedom were scratching their heads, wondering what happened to the offensive juggernaut from a season ago.

Since the team features an offense that lives and dies on the production of Abby Wambach, last season’s top-scoring team fell in its home opener, 2-1, to the Boston Breakers.

Freedom coach Jim Gabarra knew his club didn’t find his world-class striker enough and felt in order to put away the pesky expansion Atlanta Beat, they would need to go to Wambach early and often.

"We will try to do a better job of getting more players to support and serve her," said Gabarra of Wambach, heading into the game against the Beat.

On Sunday night, with the pressure of dropping to 0-2 staring the team squarely in the face, Wambach delivered, factoring in each Freedom goal en route to a 3-1 bounce-back victory at home.

For that achievement, Wambach has been recognized as Goal.com’s WPS Player of the Week.

“Abby is a very important part of our attack and is a difficult match up for any defense,” said Gabarra after the game. “She and her teammates made the most of their chances.”

First, Wambach put her club on top just before halftime, cleaning up a misplayed shot by Beat keeper Allison Whitworth inside the box, giving the Freedom a 1-0 advantage.

It was Wambach’s first goal of the season. Last year, Wambach was tied for second in the WPS with eight goals, three behind league leader Marta. In the second half, Wambach became the facilitator.

After Atlanta’ Ramona Bachmann tied the match with her goal in the 48^th minute, Wambach rallied the troops and guided them to victory.

Just three minutes after Atlanta’s game-tying goal, Wambach set up Homare Sawa, who drilled a shot by Whitworth, giving the Freedom a 2-1 lead it would not relinquish. For good measure, Wambach assisted on Christie Welsh’s goal in the 90^th minute.

“We need (Wambach) to hold the ball for us and that is an area we continue to help her improve upon,” Gabarra said. “It is nice to see the rewards of her ability to find the open player."

Wambach and the Freedom will try to keep the momentum up next weekend, when they travel to John A. Farrell Stadium in West Chester, Penn., to take on the other expansion club, the Philadelphia Independence, Sunday at 6 p.m. ET.

Also receiving consideration for the player of the week was FC Gold Pride’s Christine Sinclair. The Canadian national team player scored twice – both go-ahead goals – in the Pride’s 3-1 win over Sky Blue FC.

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