NWSL Washington Spirit

Spirit Best Red Stars in 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup Debut

Published on June 28, 2020 under National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Washington Spirit News Release


Boyds, Md. - The Washington Spirit made their 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup debut with a 2-1 win over the Chicago Red Stars on Saturday night at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman, Ut.

Scoring was opened early when midfielder Rose Lavelle was first to arrive to a ball loose in the box, pinging a cool finish into the back of the net in the 8th minute.

From that point, the Spirit controlled the game for the rest of the first half, heading into the break with a 1-0 lead, 53% share of possession and limiting the usually-potent Chicago attack to just one shot on target.

Less than one minute out from the halftime break, forward Ashley Hatch took advantage of a mistake from Red Stars keeper Alyssa Naeher and doubled Spirit's lead, with a finish from close range.

Five minutes later in the 51st minute, Red Stars midfielder Morgan Gautrat fielded a ball at the top of the Spirit's penalty area and put the chance past a diving Aubrey Bledsoe, putting the Red Stars on the scoreboard.

Bledsoe was faced with an awkward situation when Chicago midfielder Katlyn Johnson found forward Bianca St. Georges in space near the Spirit's six-yard-box, but a stunning one-handed save denied Chicago a significant scoring opportunity.

The comeback effort from the Red Stars fell short however, as Washington saw out the remaining time and secured all three points in their opening fixture. Washington

For their second fixture, the Spirit will take on the reigning NWSL Champion North Carolina Courage on Wednesday at 10 pm ET at Zions Bank Stadium, with the game broadcast live on CBS All-Access.

-NWSL Match Report-

Match: Chicago Red Stars vs Washington Spirit

Date: June 27, 2020

Venue: Zions Bank Stadium

Kickoff: 10:00 p.m. ET

Weather: Partly cloudy, high 80s

Scoring Summary:

WAS - Lavelle 8'

WAS - Hatch 46'

CHI - Gautrat 51'

Lineups:

CHI (4-2-3-1): 1-Alyssa Naeher; 6-Casey Short; 14-Zoe Morse; 29-Bianca St. Georges; 11-Sarah Gorden; 5-Rachel Hill (71' 7-Vansconcelos); 2-Kealia Watt (78' 33-Johnson); 8-Julie Ertz (c); 10-Vanessa DiBernardo (78' 9-McCaskill); 13-Morgan Gautrat (85' 24-Colaprico); 12-Yuki Nagasato (71'15-Doniak)

Unused Substitutes: 30-Hanna Davidson; 18-Ella Stevens; 21-Emily Boyd; 25-Cassie Rohan; 23-Julie Bingham; 38-Cassie Miller; 16-Camryn Biegalski; 22-Zoe Redei; 19-Sarah Leubbert; 32-Zoey Goralski; 28-Kayla Sharples

WAS (4-3-3): 1-Aubrey Bledsoe; 9-Tegan McGrady (64' 19-Dorian Bailey); 23-Tori Huster (66' 22-Jenna Hellstrom);14-Paige Nielsen; 3-Sam Staab; 11-Jordan DiBiasi; 10-Rose Lavelle (66' 8-Meggie Doughtery Howard);12-Andi Sullivan (c); 33-Ashley Hatch (86' 16-Averie Collins); 2-Ashley Sanchez; 17-Kumi Yokoyama (64' 13-Bayley Feist)

Unused Substitutes: 25-Devon Kerr; 6-Katie McClure; 4-Natalie Jacobs; 26-Meghan McCool

Stats Summary: CHI / WAS

Shots: 11 / 10

Shots on Target: 2 / 6

Saves: 1 / 4

Blocked Shots: 4 / 2

Fouls: 7 / 5

Offside: 1 / 1

Officials:

Referee: Ekaterina Koroleva

Assistant Referee 1: Jennifer Garner

Assistant Referee 2: Deleana Quan

Fourth Official: Karen Abt

Check out the Washington Spirit Statistics

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National Women's Soccer League Stories from June 28, 2020


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