Washington Spirit continues undefeated preseason with win over Duke University

Washington Spirit  |   April 1, 2017
Washington Spirit continues undefeated preseason with win over Duke University Featured Image

BOYDS, Md (April 1, 2017) – The Washington Spirit defeated Duke University 4-3 in the team’s first match on Maureen Hendricks Field in 2017. After a back and forth game in the first half, the Spirit took control in the second to come from a goal down to take the win. Katie Stengel (x2), Cheyna Williams, and Meggie Dougherty Howard scored for the Spirit.

After both teams took some time to settle in to the game, Stengel opened the scoring in the 23rd minute with a shot to the far post after rookie Arielle Ship found her on the left side of the field.

Four minutes later, Duke senior Imani Dorsey equalized the game with a shot from close range after some chaos in the box.

In the 37th minute, Stengel again proved vital to the offense by providing an assist to newly signed rookie Dougherty Howard. Dougherty Howard spent the last two summers playing on the Washington Spirit Reserves, but her goal from the top of the box was her first for the pro team.

Again just four minutes later, Duke came roaring back on a header from junior forward and 2016 Spirit Reserves player Kayla McCoy. After tying the game in the 41st minute, Duke took the lead just three minutes later after Dorsey curled a long range shot around Spirit goalkeeper DiDi Haracic after Haracic came off her line.

After trailing 2-3 going into the locker room, the Spirit reinserted midfield stalwarts Tori Huster and Joanna Lohman to start the second half. Lohman had an immediate impact when she chipped the ball in to Cheyna Williams in the box in the 52nd minute. Williams slotted a shot past Duke goalkeeper Brooke Heinsohn to tie the match 3-3.

There was a momentary stoppage in play in the 54th minute when a dragon descended on the field and refused to leave, but thankfully, former Spirit captain Lori Lindsey wrestled the dragon to the ground (April Fools) and calm was restored.

In the 57th minute, Stengel scored her second goal of the match after coming up with the ball outside the box and bending a shot into the top right corner to give the Spirit the 4-3 lead. The Spirit held on to their lead until the end of the match.

The Spirit’s last preseason match will be next Saturday, April 8 at 7 p.m. against University of Virginia at the Maryland SoccerPlex. The Spirit’s first regular season match is a Championship rematch against North Carolina Courage on Saturday, April 15 at 3 p.m., also at the Maryland SoccerPlex. Tickets for any of our preseason or regular season matches can be obtained at tickets.washingtonspirit.com

Washington Spirit Lineup: 2- Arielle Ship (40- Gloria Douglas 81’), 5-Whitney Church, 6-Kassey Kallman, 7-Line Sigvardsen Jensen (23- Tori Huster, 46’), 12-Katie Stengel (37-Crystal Thomas 70’), 16-Cameron Castleberry (32- Lauren Lazo 77’), 19-Kristie Mewis (9- Havana Solaun 65’), 20-Cheyna Williams, 21-DiDi Haracic, 24-Estelle Johnson, 29-Meggie Dougherty Howard (15- Joanna Lohman 46’)

Duke University Lineup: 2-Chelsea Burns (4-Ashton Miller 60’ (12-Kayla McCoy 83’)), 3-Imani Dorsey, 4-Ashton Miller (23-Emma Carlson 46’ (14- Mary Love Taylor 83’)), 9-Kat McDonald (21- Anna Munro 41’ (9- Kat McDonald 46’ (21- Anna Munro 77’))), 11-Olivia Erlbeck (12-Kayla McCoy 37’ (11- Olivia Erlbeck 46’ (15- Emily Wilson 87’))), 17- Ella Stevens, 19- Schuyler DeBree, 20- Mia Gyau, 22-Malinda Allen, 24- Morgan Reid, 26- Brooke Heinsohn

SCORING SUMMARY
Goal Time Team Goal Scorer Assist
 1 23 Spirit Katie Stengel
 2 27 Duke Imani Dorsey
 3 37 Spirit Meggie Dougherty Howard  Katie Stengel
 4 41 Duke Kayla McCoy
 5 44 Duke Imani Dorsey
 6 52 Spirit Cheyna Williams  Joanna Lohman
 7 59 Spirit Katie Stengel

 

CAUTIONS AND EJECTIONS
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