Spirit Ties Dash for Tenth Draw of Season
August 27, 2022 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Washington Spirit News Release
Houston, Texas – The Washington Spirit recorded its tenth draw of the season Saturday night against the Dash.
It would be the Dash who created the first attacking move. In the fourth minute of the game, Sánchez played in a cross from the left-hand side, calling on Aubrey Kingsbury to collect the ball through traffic. The Dash would follow up with a more clear cut chance in the ninth minute. Salmon found herself in a one-on-one opportunity, breaking free at midfield. Making a last minute recovery run, the Spirit defenders were able to apply pressure and put the ball out for a corner.
In the 22nd minute, the Dash opened up the scoring off a set piece opportunity. With a free kick crossed in from the right-hand side of the pitch, the ball deflected off a Spirit defender, forcing a save from Kingsbury. After hitting the post and bouncing around inside the six-yard box, the ball would fall to Schmidt, getting the final touch to put the ball over the line and into the back of the net.
The first opportunity for the Spirit would come in the 29th minute from Tara McKeown. After a stint of possession outside the box, the ball made its way out wide to McKeown. Cutting inside from the left, McKeown fired a shot to the lower left corner inside the 18 calling on Dash goalkeeper Jane Campbell to make the save, making way for a Washington corner.
In the 49th minute, Trinity Rodman generated the first opportunity of the half for the Spirit. Taking a shot in stride off a pass from Ashley Sanchez, Rodman placed a shot to the top right corner that was pushed over the bar and out for a corner by Campbell. The Dash would fire back with a shot from Salmon in the 51st minute, placed down the middle making a routine save for Kingsbury. In the following minute, Kingsbury was called on once again. Off an over the top through ball, Salmon found herself in a one-on-one with Kingsbury who came out and got on the ground to block Salmon’s shot.
Ashley Hatch would be the defining piece for the Spirit, starting in the 53rd minute. Off of a streaking run from Rodman on the right side, she placed a low cross into Hatch. Separating herself between defenders, Hatch would tap the ball into the back of the net from six yards out. Two minutes later, Hatch found the back of the net again. The Spirit was awarded a free kick just outside of the box on the left side after a foul on Hatch. On the resulting free kick, Sanchez placed a cross into the box. Hatch rose into the air over her defender and placed a header into the top left side of the net, past Campbell who was left helpless at a full length dive.
In the 82nd minute, the Dash continued to push to find an equalizer. Slotting a cross into the six-yard box from the right side of the field, Kingsbury was called on to collect the ball through more traffic yet again. In the first minute of stoppage time, the Dash would equalize. Kingsbury made the save on the initial header, but the rebound by Alozie was tapped in to tie the match.
The Spirit will return to Audi Field in Washington, D.C. next Saturday to take on San DIego Wave FC. The game is slated to kick off at 1 p.m., a change from the original 5 p.m. time. Featuring a tailgate zone, a kids zone, a ‘get in the spirit’ zone, a merchandise zone and a community zone, Spiritville will return and host a drag show on the concourse at Audi Field prior to kickoff early Saturday afternoon.
-NWSL Match Report-
Match: Houston Dash vs. Washington Spirit
Date: August 27, 2022
Venue: PNC Stadium
Kickoff: 8:30 p.m. ET
Weather: Partly cloudy, low-80s
Scoring Summary:
Goals 1 2 F
Houston 1 1 0
Washington 0 2 0
HOU – Sophie Schmidt – 22′
WAS – Ashley Hatch – 53′
WAS – Ashley Hatch – 55′
HOU – Michelle Alozie – 90’+1′
Lineups:
HOU: 1- Jane Campbell; 5- Caprice Dydasco; 23- Ally Prisock; 25- Katie Naughton; 30- Natalie Jacobs (21- Ryan Gareis 74′); 13- Sophie Schmidt; 10- Shea Groom (18- Emily Ogle 74′); 15- Marisa Viggiano (14- Bri Visalli 74′); 8- Nichelle Prince (22- Michelle Alozie 80′); 11- Ebony Salmon (89- Valerie Gauvin 81′); 7- Maria Sanchez
Unused Substitutes: 34- Michaela Abam; 19- Elizabeth Eddy; 28- Cali Farquharson; 20- Lindsey Harris
WAS: 1- Aubrey Kingsbury; 30- Camryn Biegalski; 3- Sam Staab; 22- Amber Brooks (4- Karina Rodriguez 78′); 21- Anna Heilferty; 19- Dorian Bailey (13- Bayley Feist 63′); 12- Andi Sullivan; 33- Ashley Hatch (11- Jordan Baggett 63′); 10- Ashley Sanchez (25- Marissa Sheva 90’+2′) ; 2- Trinity Rodman; 9- Tara McKeown
Unused Substitutes: 17- Tinaya Alexander; 7- Taylor Aylmer; 29- Maddie Elwell; 18- Devon Kerr; 20- Gaby Vincent
Stats Summary: HOU / WAS
Shots: 15 / 8
Shots On Goal: 5 / 6
Saves: 5 / 4
Shots Blocked: 6 / 0
Fouls: 10 / 9
Offsides: 1 / 3
Misconduct Summary:
WAS – Amber Brooks – 42′ – Yellow Card
HOU – Caprice Dydasco – 45’+3′ – Yellow Card
HOU – Natalie Jacobs – 55′ – Yellow Card
WAS – Camryn Biegalski – 85′ – Yellow Card
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