Megan Rapinoe scored four goals in two matches last week (Andy Mead/YCJ Photo)

CHICAGO – Seattle Reign FC forward Megan Rapinoe Wednesday was voted the National Women’s Soccer League player of the week by the NWSL Media Association.

Rapinoe, 32, scored four goals in two games for the Reign as she led the club to a pair of home victories that pushed Seattle into third place. She scored twice in each match. Rapinoe first rallied the Reign for a 2-1 home victory over the Chicago Red Stars last Wednesday before also netting both goals in a 2-0 win over the Portland Thorns FC.

The Redding, Calif. native converted twice from the penalty spot in the second half against the Red Stars – smashing her shot over the outstretched arms of goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher and into the top left corner in the 58th minute. She earned an 84th-minute spot kick that she duly powered into the middle of the goal to complete Seattle’s comeback.

The U.S. international was at her predatory best against the Thorns as she ghosted behind Portland defender Emily Sonnett in first-half stoppage time to steal the ball and slot it past goalkeeper Adrianna Franch. She then sealed all three points for Seattle in the 80th minute when she raced onto a through ball from Christine Nairn and crushed a left-footed shot that bounced past Franch and just inside the far post.

The assist for Nairn was the 17th of her NWSL career – one behind former FC Kansas City midfielder and U.S. international Lauren Holiday for first place on the all-time list.

It was the only goal scored by Rapinoe in Week 11 that wasn’t unassisted as the University of Portland product tallied all four of Seattle’s goals against the Red Stars and Thorns. She leads the league with nine goals on the season – three more than her closest competitors.

It is the third time Rapinoe has been honored as player of the week and the 17th time a player has won the award.

The Seattle Reign FC will return to action against the North Carolina Courage at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C. Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

The NWSL 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.