Gotham wins first NWSL Shield: 'That should be our standard' - ESPN

Gotham FC defeated the Utah Royals 2-0 on Sunday at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey, to clinch the NWSL Shield for the first time.

After the game, goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger said the trophy is a testament to Gotham's quality after winning last year's NWSL Championship as the lowest-ranked team in the playoffs.

«We didn't perform last season as well as we should,» Berger told reporters after Sunday's win and trophy ceremony. «Because we have the squad that should be on top of the league. I'm not saying that we have to win every single year, but I think now, where we are, that should be our standard with the squad that we have.»

«I think over time we've now proved that we are the top team, because if you remember last season, media people were like, 'Yeah, we're the underdogs.' We are not, and that's our standard. And I think that's why it's even better that we've won the Shield now, and I really hope that people are taking us very serious because that's what they should [do].»

Gotham needed only a draw to clinch the NWSL Shield for the first time and hold off the San Diego Wave. Guro Reiten scored early and Jaedyn Shaw added an insurance goal late in the 2-0 win over Utah. San Diego also won Sunday and finished three points behind Gotham.

Gotham are the seventh different franchise to win the NWSL Shield. Gotham won two of the past three NWSL Championships but prevailed in those postseasons as the lowest seed in the playoffs. They were the No. 8 seed last year when they upset the Shield-winning Kansas City Current in the quarterfinals on the way to a title.

Gotham will host Seattle Reign FC in this year's quarterfinals on Nov. 8 (12 p.m. ET on ABC). Seattle qualified as the eighth and final seed with a