Legacy fall to Washington Spirit despite late goal from Sammy Smith
NWSL Boston Legacy FC

Legacy fall to Washington Spirit despite late goal from Sammy Smith

Published on July 20, 2026 under National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Boston Legacy FC News Release


Pawtucket, RI - The Legacy fell 2-1 to the Washington Spirit Sunday night, ending a three-game unbeaten streak.

The Legacy looked to strike early, with Nichelle Prince driving in a cross in the 3' that skated past everyone across the face of the goal. Washington pressed high through the first minutes of the game, while Boston stayed patient and settled into rhythm.

The Spirit found the back of the net in the 25' when a cross from the corner of the box was headed into the far post by Tara Rudd. The Legacy answered with a chance to equalize in the 29', sending a cross into Aïssata Traoré at the near post, but her header was just off target. The visitors doubled their lead in the 31' on a through ball slipped in behind the back line for Trinity Rodman, who beat Casey Murphy one-on-one to put the Spirit up 2-0.

Boston facilitated several more opportunities to close out the half, including a one-touch from Traoré in traffic that sailed just over the crossbar, and a stoppage time strike from Bianca St-Georges that drifted outside the post.

Traoré kicked off the second half for the Legacy with a 46' minute strike that found the hands of Spirit goalkeeper Sandy MacIver. In the 53', St-Georges was issued a yellow card. In the 59', Sammy Smith entered the game to replace Ella Stevens.

In the 65', Traoré received the ball behind Washington's back line and slipped it into the six-yard box for an oncoming Nichelle Prince, who collided with MacIver before she could finish.

Boston made another substitution in the 72', replacing Prince with Amanda Gutierres. The Legacy generated another chance to get on the board with a 73' set piece from Alba Caño, which created numerous looks in Washington's box but was eventually cleared.

In the 87', a long ball over the top of Washington's back line led to Sammy Smith winning a footrace with MacIver and sliding the ball into the far post to cut the deficit to 1. Following the goal, Boston made their last substitution, sending Aleigh Gambone in for Caño in the 89'. The Legacy played out the final minutes of the game with urgency but ultimately ran out of time to find an equalizer.

Starting XI: Casey Murphy, Emerson Elgin, Bianca St-Georges, Jorelyn Carabali, Annie Karich, Alba Caño, Barbara Olivieri, Lilly Reale, Ella Stevens, Nichelle Prince (C), Aïssata Traoré

Substitutes: Hannah Stambaugh, Laurel Ivory, Laurel Ansbrow, Deja Davis, Nicki Hernandez, Aleigh Gambone, Amanda Gutierres, Sammy Smith, Amanda Allen

BY THE NUMBERS

Attendance: 10,101

Shots: Boston Legacy 11, Washington Spirit 7

Shots on goal: Boston Legacy 3, Washington Spirit 3

Corner Kicks: Boston Legacy 1, Washington Spirit 2

Fouls: Boston Legacy 10, Washington Spirit 11

Yellow Cards: Boston Legacy 1, Washington Spirit 2

Red Cards: None

Saves: Boston Legacy 1, Washington Spirit 2

UP NEXT

The Legacy return to Centreville Bank Stadium on Saturday, July 25, where they will face the Kansas City Current for the second time this season.

Check out the Boston Legacy FC Statistics

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National Women's Soccer League Stories from July 20, 2026


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