Three Players to Watch: Gotham FC

(image via Gotham FC)

The Houston Dash will head to New Jersey for their last match before the league takes a month-long break. Here are three Gotham players to keep an eye on in the match.

Jaedyn Shaw

After three clubs in two years, Shaw appears to have found a place where she can truly shine. Despite a difficult first season with Gotham last year, she is on pace for the best campaign of her professional career. Shaw has recorded five goals and two assists this season, thriving in a system that fits her style of play. Her freedom to drift across the left wing allows her to influence the attack while also finding dangerous spaces inside the penalty box when needed.

Jaelin Howell

The 26-year-old midfielder has stepped into a larger role with Rose Lavelle in and out of the lineup due to injuries. Howell is not the type of player who grabs headlines with flashy attacking moments, but she plays an important role in Gotham’s system. She helps maintain possession and dictate tempo, allowing teammates to make runs forward. Defensively, she positions herself well to intercept passes and win challenges that can quickly turn possession back in Gotham’s favor.

Guro Reiten

The veteran Norwegian midfielder and defender adds even more championship experience to an already stacked Gotham side. Following a stellar career with Chelsea, Reiten brings valuable versatility to the squad. Whether playing deeper as a fullback or further up the field, she contributes heavily to the possession game while using her experience to know when to join the attack and when to drop back defensively.