NWSL Washington Spirit

Spirit Break Through with 4-1 Rout of Pride

Published on April 3, 2022 under National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Washington Spirit News Release


Washington, D.C. - For the first time since being crowned league champions last November, the Washington Spirit are victorious. Despite ceding the Orlando Pride's first goal of the year, the Spirit attack tallied four goals to match San Diego for the most in a single match thus far in 2022.

As the first half winded down with minimal scoring chances, this match looked a lot like the first meeting between these two sides. In the 28th minute, Ashley Hatch had a left-footed attempt blocked away just before the goal line and, three minutes later, Trinity Rodman blocked a hard shot right in front of Spirit goalkeeper Devon Kerr. Kerr would go on to deliver a first-half shutout in her NWSL debut.

Finally, in the 43rd minute, Ashley Sanchez broke through on a cross from Trinity Rodman and a fake shot attempt from Ashley Hatch. Sanchez was the Spirit's leader in shots through three games before notching her first goal of the year.

Just two minutes later, team captain Andi Sullivan padded Washington's lead with a turnaround shot on another Rodman assist.

Coming out of the halftime break with its first lead of this year's Challenge Cup, the Spirit wasted no time finding the back of the net again. Camryn Biegalski sent a 49th-minute cross to Ashley Hatch who buried her third goal in as many games.

The Pride got on the scoreboard for the first time since last season in the 54th minute when Gunny Jónsdóttir tucked a ball past Aubrey Kingsbury, who started the second half in relief of Kerr. Kingsbury would not allow another goal throughout the next 40 minutes, shutting down several Pride threats. In the 67th minute, Anna Heilferty saw her best scoring opportunity of the young season, sending a line drive at the frame from close range on the left side of the box.

In spite of its 3-1 lead, the Spirit did not play conservatively in the final 15 minutes of action. A tough Ashley Hatch shot in the 77th minute had to be saved by Pride goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse and a breaking Ashley Sanchez tried a floater over the keeper's head a minute later that was able to be tracked down. Trinity Rodman had a goal disallowed due to an offside call before she nearly had her third assist of the day on an Ashley Sanchez header that went just wide of the net. Capping off the Spirit's offensive explosion, Kelley O'Hara assisted Rodman on a header in the 87th minute that dribbled into the right side of the goal to set the eventual final score at 4-1.

The Washington Spirit head into a two-week break period that will see seven players head off for international duty. Following the break, Washington will travel to New Jersey to play Gotham FC on Sunday, April 17.

-NWSL Match Report-

Match: Washington Spirit vs. Orlando Pride

Date: April 3, 2022

Venue: Audi Field

Kickoff: 4:00 p.m. ET

Weather: partly cloudy, high-50s

Scoring Summary:

Goals 1 2 F

Washington 2 2 4

Orlando 0 1 1

WAS - Ashley Sanchez - 43'

WAS - Andi Sullivan - 45'

WAS - Ashley Hatch - 49'

ORL - Gunny Jónsdóttir - 54'

WAS - Trinity Rodman - 87'

Lineups:

WAS: 18- Devon Kerr (1- Aubrey Kingsbury 46'); 30- Camryn Biegalski; 4- Karina Rodriguez (22- Amber Brooks 69'); 3- Sam Staab; 5- Kelley O'Hara; 7- Taylor Aylmer; 12- Andi Sullivan (16- Julia Roddar 50'); 21- Anna Heilferty (14- Morgan Goff 69'); 10- Ashley Sanchez; 2- Trinity Rodman; 33- Ashley Hatch (17- Tinaya Alexander 78')

Unused Substitutes: 28- Nicole Barnhart; 11- Jordan Baggett; 20- Gaby Vincent

ORL: 21- Anna Moorhouse; 17- Courtney Petersen; 5- Megan Montefusco; 4- Amy Turner (3- Toni Pressley 79'); 12- Carrie Lawrence (13- Celia 61'); 15- Erika Tymrak (25- Kerry Abello 61'); 8- Gunny Jónsdóttir; 6- Angharad James (22- Parker Roberts 60'); 16- Mikayla Cluff (19- Abi Kim 76'); 28- Meggie Dougherty Howard; 11- Darian Jenkins

Unused Substitutes: 18- Kaylie Collins; 35- Leah Pruitt; 27- Chelsee Washington

Stats Summary: WAS / ORL

Shots: 24 / 9

Shots On Goal: 13 / 2

Saves: 1 / 8

Blocked Shots: 3 / 4

Fouls: 12 / 11

Offside: 1 / 3

Misconduct Summary:

ORL - Angharad James - 27' - Yellow Card

ORL - Amy Turner - 74' - Yellow Card

Check out the Washington Spirit Statistics

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