SPIRIT TRAVEL TO SEATTLE FOR SEMIFINAL MATCH AGAINST THE REIGN

Washington Spirit  |   September 11, 2015
SPIRIT TRAVEL TO SEATTLE FOR SEMIFINAL MATCH AGAINST THE REIGN Featured Image

BOYDS, Md. (September 11, 2015)— The Washington Spirit (8-6-6, 30 points) will play its 2015 NWSL semifinal match this Sunday at 9:30pm  ET on FOX Sports 1 against the 2015 shield winning Seattle Reign FC (13-3-4 43 points) at Moda Pitch in Memorial Stadium. The game will be a rematch from last weekend when both sides closed out their regular season at the Maryland SoccerPlex, with the Reign scoring a 2-1 win. This game will also be a rematch of last season’s NWSL semifinal match which sent the Reign into the NWSL final.

“These are the games that we spoke about in our first preseason meeting,” said head coach and general manager Mark Parsons. “These are the games that we set targets for. Sunday is going to be an exciting game between two very good teams and we are ready. The team has trained exceptionally well and has been very determined since walking in at the beginning of the week. I am confident we will see the best of us on Sunday.”

The Washington Spirit has played Seattle Reign FC three times this season. The Reign won the first match up 3-1 in Seattle in May, but the Spirit came back to beat the Reign 3-0 in July at the Maryland SoccerPlex with goals from Amanda Da Costa, Christine Nairn, and Crystal Dunn. The Reign returned to the SoccerPlex last weekend to win the final regular season match up 2-1 with goals from Jessica Fishlock and Megan Rapinoe. The Spirit’s goal came in the form of a Diana Matheson penalty kick.

The Spirit will be looking to its newly crowned 2015 NWSL Golden Boot winner Crystal Dunn as well as recent goal scorers Diana Matheson and Francisca Ordega to lead the Spirit’s offense against the Reign’s powerful defense led by goalkeeper Hope Solo. Another player to watch could be Christine Nairn who has provided the Spirit with 5 goals and 4 assists this season and can strike at a moment’s notice at great distances from the goal. Ali Krieger will not be available due to a family commitment.

The Spirit is hoping that this will not be the last trip to the Pacific Northwest this year, as the final will be held on Thursday October 1st at 9:30pm ET at Providence Park in Portland.

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