Paige Monaghan scored her first two goals of her NWSL career last week. (Photo courtesy of the NWSL)

Sky Blue FC rookie Paige Monaghan was voted the National Women’s Soccer League player of the week by the NWSL Media Association, it was announced Tuesday.

Earning her first player of the week nod, Monaghan scored the first two goals of her NWSL career in a 2-1 victory over Chicago Red Stars.

In the 71st minute, Monaghan received a pass from Carli Lloyd before cutting the ball to her right foot and firing the ball past U.S. international goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher. After Chicago equalized in stoppage time through Sam Kerr, Monaghan again came up big in a crucial spot. She ran onto a through ball from Julie James and then lifted a shot over Naeher, who had come off her line for the game-winning goal.

Sky Blue FC snapped the Red Stars’ five-game winning streak in the process. Monaghan also started in Sky Blue FC’s 1-1 draw with Reign FC in front of the team’s record attendance of 9,415 at Red Bull Arena.

The player of the week is selected each week of the regular season by the NWSL Media Association, a collection of writers that cover the league on a consistent basis.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.