Becomes the first NWSL player to reach the feat

CHICAGO – Red Stars forward Sam Kerr made history after becoming the first National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) player to score 50 goals in her career, upping the ante by scoring goals 49, 50 and 51 this season after a hat trick against former club, Sky Blue FC.

2013: 6 goals – Western New York Flash
The then 19-year-old started her NWSL career on a high by scoring the club’s first goal in the newest league in their second match of the season, tallying her second goal the following week. After the opening goal in a 3-0 victory against Sky Blue FC, Kerr went on a scoring hiatus for eight matches. She followed the scoring draught with two back-to-back goals in a pair of 3-0 victories for the Flash. Kerr’s final goal was in the last regular season match, leading the team into the postseason after winning the first NWSL Shield.

2014: 9 goals – Western New York Flash
After falling in the 2013 NWSL Championship the previous year, the Flash found themselves in a turn-around year with five losses in their first 10 games. Kerr led the Flash with nine goals on the season, starting her scoring in Western New York’s second win of the season. The forward scored her first brace in a miraculous 5-0 victory over reigning Champions, Portland Thorn FC. The Flash went through an eight-game back-to-back win-loss series, where Kerr scored three more times. Ultimately, the Flash finished in seventh place to oust them from a second run at the Championship.

2015: 6 goals – Sky Blue FC
After the 2014 season, Kerr was traded to Sky Blue FC. For her new team, Kerr didn’t start scoring until the second half of the season after returning from the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The forward scored her first game-winning goal in a 1-0 victory against Portland in her first game back from the break. Kerr notched her second career brace in the final match, ending Sky Blue’s season near the bottom of the table in eighth place.

2016: 5 goals – Sky Blue FC
Once again, Kerr lead the team with five goals in her second year with Sky Blue FC. Her first goal came halfway through the season, becoming the game winner in a 2-1 match against Washington Spirit. Despite Sky Blue going on a three-game victory streak, Kerr was unable to find a goal. That all changed after the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio break, as Kerr went on a four-game scoring streak. Kerr’s goals weren’t enough to give Sky Blue the points they needed to get a berth to the post season, finishing in seventh place.

2017: 17 goals – Sky Blue FC
In what was Kerr’s breakout year Sky Blue went 8-2-1 when the forward scored for her club. Among her NWSL record for a single-season high, Kerr made a name for herself on multiple occasions. The first coming halfway through the season when Sky Blue was down by two at the half for FC Kansas City. Kerr never gave up as she tallied a hat trick in 12 minutes, scoring the game winner in the final minute of the match. Weeks later, she earned a record-breaking four goals in the second half, including the winner as Sky Blue came back to defeat a powerful Seattle Reign. Despite being honored the Golden Boot and MVP awards, Kerr and Sky Blue were left out of the post season, finishing in sixth place with 33 points.

2018: 8 goals – Chicago Red Stars
In the preseason blockbuster trade, Kerr was acquired by the Chicago Red Stars. After being away for international duty, Kerr started by scoring a goal in back-to-back games. Weeks later, she tallied in consecutive games once again, including her first brace for Chicago. After a four-game scoreless streak, Kerr broke the streak in spectacular fashion by scoring a hat trick during a 3-1 victory against the forward’s former team, Sky Blue FC. Kerr now holds the NWSL record for most goals in her career with 51, while also earning the most goals this season with eight.