Hatch named 2021 NWSL Golden Boot winner

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Former BYU women's soccer player and Washington Spirit forward Ashley Hatch was honored with the 2021 National Women's Soccer League Golden Boot on Sunday.

The Golden Boot is awarded to the player with the most regular-season goals. Hatch has 10 goals on the season, with four left-footed, four right-footed and two headed goals. This is Hatch's fifth year with the Spirit. In her first season with the team, Hatch earned the Washington Spirit’s Golden Boot Award leading the team in goals with four.

"So excited and proud of Ashley," said Jennifer Rockwood, BYU head coach. "She is one of the hardest-working athletes I know, and she has invested so much into being her very best."

Hatch and the Washington Spirit earned the No. 3 seed in this year's NWSL playoffs and will take on No. 6 seed North Carolina Courage in the second quarterfinal contest on Sunday, Nov. 7 at Audi Field in a 5:30 p.m. ET match that will stream live on Paramount+.

In her collegiate career, Hatch scored 47 goals and recorded 21 assists for the Cougars in her four years on the team, earning her All-WCC First Team honors. Her senior year, Hatch was the first player in the nation to score 10 and 15 goals in the 2016 NCAA Season. She was a finalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy Award and scored two hat tricks in 2016.