In her rookie season – she was drafted 10th overall by Gold Pride in January – Riley has been a constant presence at full back for the Pride, with only Canadian striker Christine Sinclair and Brazilian superstar Marta playing more minutes than the Stanford University graduate.
The jet-heeled defender has also contributed three assists over the course of the season, including the cross for Marta’s opening goal in the 3-2 win over Chicago Red Stars on Saturday that saw Gold Pride wrap up the regular season title with four matches remaining in the 24-game season.
The win extended the Pride’s unbeaten streak to nine matches but more importantly qualified the San Francisco-based club to host the September 26 championship final.
Riley, the reigning New Zealand and OFC Women’s Player of the Year, faces a tight turnaround after the final, boarding a plane for Auckland that evening to suit up for the Football Ferns as they chase a place in the FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011 via the eight-nation OFC Nations Cup from September 29 to October 8 at North Harbour Stadium.
Story and photo courtesy of NZF Media.
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