Stephanie 'wonder goal' Roche nets deal with U.S. women's side Houston Dash

Updated 1417 GMT (2217 HKT) February 20, 2015

Stephanie Roche's strike saw her take second place in FIFA's Puskas Award

Story highlights

• Stephanie Roche is off to America to play for Houston Dash in the U.S. Woman's National Football League
• The Irish international striker scored a stunning goal which was nominated for the FIFA Puskas Award
• Roche's goal came second to James Rodriguez' strike for Colombia against Uruguay at the World Cup last year
• The 25-year-old's move to the U.S. follows a brief stint with French club ASPTT Albi

 (CNN)She scored the second best goal of 2014 and now Irish forward Stephanie Roche has landed herself a move to U.S. National Women's Soccer League side, Houston Dash.

Roche's volley for Peamount United against Wexford Youths in a Irish league game watched by fewer than 100 spectators became the first goal scored by a woman to be named a finalist in the FIFA Puskas Award for goal of the year.

"I am so excited about the signing of Stephanie, we are getting a player that has great technical ability, a superb left foot, and possibly the best goalscorer to come out of Ireland since (former international striker) Olivia O'Toole," Dash head coach Randy Waldrum said on the club's website.

"Stephanie will bring a wealth of international experience to our team, and another great attacking option that is different from what we have already," he added.

"All our Dash fans and fans of women's soccer in general will be excited about this signing."

James Rodriguez won the Puskas Award for 2014, but the Colombian was gracious enough to say that Roche's fabulous volley, which took second place at FIFA's glitzy ceremony in January, just might have trumped his goal against Uruguay at the World Cup last year saying it "deserved to win, but only one can."

Rodriguez's goal came in front of thousands at Rio's Maracana Stadium, with millions more around the world watching on TV.

It was a very different setting when Roche collected the ball with her back to goal, flicked it over her head and crashed it home while playing in the Irish Woman's National League.

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