Mia Fishel just keeps getting better and better.
The U.S. Under-23 forward finished the Liga MX Femeníl Apertura season atop the league’s scoring charts. That makes the Tigres star the first player born outside of Mexico to take the individual scoring title. Which, for a 21-year-old, is not too shabby.
Fishel finished the season with 17 goals, just barely finishing ahead of Christina Burkenroad, who scored 16 times for Tigres’ city rivals Monterrey. Fishel’s minutes-per-goal rate meant she scored one goal for every 81.65 minutes during the Apertura, an absurd strike rate.
Fishel’s first pro season, the 2021-22 Clausura, saw her score eight times and add four more in the Liguilla. She clearly took things to another level with Tigres throughout this summer and fall, leading Tigres to a third-place finish in the table.
I would like to dedicate my achievement to my family, team, and management group for their everlasting support and belief in me. The best is yet to come as we head into the Apertura 2022 playoffs and championship run. I have no doubt we are capable of securing a 5th championship! pic.twitter.com/DEJwvXyufM
— Mia Fishel (@miafishel10) October 26, 2022
That red-hot scoring run will continue the pressure from some quarters on U.S. women’s national team head coach Vlatko Andonovski, who has so far opted not to call Fishel up to the senior team.
However, there is stern competition for those call-ups: Alex Morgan won the Golden Boot, while Ashley Hatch scored nine goals despite the Washington Spirit’s struggles this year. Kristen Hamilton and Bethany Balcer both had strong seasons on playoff teams, and both Catarina Macario and Christen Press will be making a huge push to get back into the USWNT picture once they return from torn ACLs.
Tigres will take on Toluca in the Liguilla quarterfinals, playing the away leg on Thursday, October 28 before hosting the second leg on Monday, October 31.
[lawrence-related id=7138,6383,2980]