U.S. women's national team striker Alex Morgan has been named 2018 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year.
The striker was prolific in 2018, scoring 18 goals in 19 games to finish the year as the team's leading scorer. She beats out fellow finalists Megan Rapinoe, Lindsey Horan, Tobin Heath and Julie Ertz.
It is the second time Morgan has taken home the prize after she also won the award in 2012.
Morgan helped lead the USWNT to an undefeated 2018, with the team finishing the year with a record of 18-0-2. The U.S. took home the Tournament of Nations, the SheBelieves Cup and the Concacaf Women's Championship in a banner year ahead of the World Cup in 2019.
"Of the five players nominated, any one was deserving, so I am incredibly honored to have won this award," Morgan said in a federation release.
"I'm just happy that I was able to contribute in this way to the national team, especially leading into a World Cup year, as it was important for the whole team to gain confidence and momentum," Morgan added.
Morgan is currently on 98 career international goals, and is poised to become the seventh American woman to join the 100 club in 2019.
Elsewhere, USWNT and Stanford University defender Tierna Davidson has been named the Young Female Player of the Year.
The 20-year-old earned her first senior cap for the U.S. in January and went on to become a mainstay for Jill Ellis' side, making 12 starts for the team in 2018.
Davidson quickly developed into a key performer for the USWNT, and is poised to compete with Abby Dahlkemper for a starting berth in central defense at the World Cup next summer.
"It's a huge honor, not only to be nominated, but to be chosen for this award," Davidson said.
"It's been quite a year in terms of the quick start, getting to play for the national team in some big games and then being included on the team for most of the year."
