Gotham FC winger Midge Purce is leaving no stone unturned in her quest to remain in peak physical condition as the stretch run of the NWSL season approaches.
“This is a really important and sensitive, delicate part of the season that I think a lot of people don’t realize how much work goes into being healthy,” Purce said in the mixed zone following Friday’s 1-1 home draw against Portland Thorns FC.
The 30-year-old is playing her 10th NWSL season and has dealt with hamstring and thigh injuries in past seasons, so she’s placing a greater emphasis on weightlifting to ensure that she’s available for selection.
How Purce Has Changed Her Approach to Staying Healthy
“I lift four times a week,” Purce explained. “Which I’ve never done in my career until recently, just trying to stay healthy. It’s working so far.”
Purce has appeared in 21 of Gotham’s 22 NWSL matches, scoring three goals and registering one assist in 1,379 minutes played. On Friday, she assisted Jaedyn Shaw’s long-range 60th-minute goal.
The match marked Purce’s 150th career NWSL regular-season game. It was also her 87th appearance for Gotham, moving her past Christie Pearce for fifth place in club history.
Purce credited the advice she received from former teammate Crystal Dunn for helping her understand the importance of taking care of her body when she was a younger player.
“A long time ago, a very wise player said to me, half the battle is availability, and that was Crystal Dunn back in my younger days,” Purce recalled. “My team is really, really good at trying to make sure that we are at optimal performance… the girls are just absolute professionals.”
Purce’s Longevity Continues to Benefit First-Place Gotham
Shifting between right-back and right wing, Purce has played a significant role in the Bats’ first-place standing. Gotham (45 points) is currently six points ahead of second-place San Diego Wave FC with eight regular-season games remaining.
If Gotham can maintain the strong form they’ve shown since returning from the April international break, the Bats could claim their first NWSL Shield in franchise history.
But Purce isn’t getting ahead of herself. For her and her teammates, the focus is on match-by-match improvement.
“It’s definitely a goal that we set at the beginning of the season, but right now we’re still in that ‘trust the process’ phase, not really looking,” Purce replied when asked about the NWSL Shield chase. “That’s not the first thing on their mind. It’s the next game that’s the first thing on their mind.”
Gotham FC will soon begin a three-game road trip starting with a visit to Centennial Stadium to face Denver Summit FC on September 6.
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