Mallory Swanson

Check out this stunning 40-yard goal by Christine Nairn in the NWSL

Published Nov. 15, 2016 2:43 p.m. ET

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The National Women's Soccer League took a break for the Rio Olympics, but as of Thursday night, the NWSL is back and giving us awesome goals to watch over and over again.

The Washington Spirit and the Houston Dash played a squeezed-in makeup match on Thursday night, but everyone who wasn't paying attention missed out. Check out this goal from the Spirit's Christine Nairn in the second half:

We see you, @NairnChristine. Spirit up, 2-0. pic.twitter.com/bqrVzg4zPm
— Our Game Magazine (@OurGameMagazine) August 19, 2016

Houston Dash 1–2 Washington Spirit. Spirit move into first place. Ohai for Houston. Nairn converts PK and did this ? pic.twitter.com/ozyxh098PH
— Our Game Magazine (@OurGameMagazine) August 19, 2016

That goal can probably best be summed up in one word: Boom.

Nairn noticed Dash goalkeeper Bianca Henniger off her line and decided to go for it, not just from a stunning distance of 40 yards out, but from a pretty wide angle for such a long-range effort, too.

The Spirit won, 2-1, and moved into sole possession of first place on the league table, breaking a deadlock at the top with the Portland Thorns.

The NWSL should see an influx next week of the U.S. women's national team players who exited in the Olympics quarterfinal, but defender Ali Krieger returned early and started in the Spirit's win on Thursday. Every USWNT player, except 18-year-old Mallory Pugh, plays in the NWSL and is expected to report to their clubs next week.

And, well, after the disappointment of the USWNT's Olympics run, American fans will probably be pretty thrilled to shift gears back to the club soccer. If NWSL can keep delivering goals like that, all the better.

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