Washington Spirit Opens Preseason with 3-0 Win over Penn State University

Washington Spirit  |   March 18, 2017
Washington Spirit Opens Preseason with 3-0 Win over Penn State University Featured Image

 

BOYDS, Md (March 18, 2017) – The Washington Spirit secured its first win of 2017 in its first preseason game against Penn State. The Spirit proved dominant in a 3-0 win over the Nittany Lions in front of over 300 fans who were lucky enough to have grabbed tickets before weather forced a move from Maureen Hendricks Field to a synthetic turf field on the sprawling Maryland SoccerPlex campus. Katie Stengel scored a penalty kick goal and tallied an assist, while recent signee Kristie Mewis added two more goals to the Spirit’s overall score.

The preseason match comprised of three 30 minute periods. The first period ended scoreless for both sides. Shortly into the second period, after both teams picked up on the pace of the game, the Spirit saw the first goal of the match. Rookie Arielle Ship made an offensive attack into the Lion’s box and was promptly fouled. Stengel stepped up to the spot, and despite Penn State keeper Rose Chandler getting a hand on the ball, was able to capitalize and put the Spirit on the board.

Stengel played a prominent role in the second goal of the game as well after dribbling toward the Spirit’s offensive third before sending a pass to the feet of Mewis in the 43rd minute. Mewis, running at full speed, deftly touched passed her defender, then clipped the ball over the onrushing keeper from a tight angle into the far side netting to make it 2-0.

Mewis continued to make her presence known in her Spirit debut, capitalizing again later in the period when she sent a snap shot from the top of the box that riffled inches above the synthetic surface of field 19 and into the lower right corner.

The Spirit’s next preseason match will be on Saturday, March 25 against University of North Carolina in the first ever preseason game played in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Kickoff will be at 6:30 p.m. at Evergreen Sportsplex in Leesburg. Fans can obtain one of the few remaining tickets at tickets.washingtonspirit.com

Single game tickets for the Spirit’s 2017 season went on sale earlier this week. The Spirit’s first match is a Championship rematch against North Carolina Courage on Saturday, April 15 at 3 p.m. at the Maryland SoccerPlex.

Washington Spirit Lineup: 4- Shelina Zadorsky (31- Fran Garzelloni 61′), 5 – Whitney Church, 6-Kassey Kallman (33-Tessa Gavilsky 61′), 7 – Line Sigvardsen Jensen (29-Meggie Dougherty Howard 31′ (39- Molly Menchel 61′)), 12 – Katie Stengel (37- Crystal Thomas 61′), 15-Joanna Lohman (19- Kristie Mewis 31′ (40-Gloria Douglas 70′)), 16 – Cameron Castleberry (2-Arielle Ship 31′ (38-Marion Crowder 70′)), 20 – Cheyna Williams (8- Lindsay Agnew, 44′), 21 – DiDi Haracic (36-Kori Butterfield 70′), 23 – Tori Huster (9- Havana Solaun 61′), 24 – Estelle Johnson (32-Lauren Lazo 61′)

 

SCORING SUMMARY
Goal Time Team Goal Scorer Assist
 1 34 Spirit Katie Stengel
 2 43 Spirit Kristie Mewis Katie Stengel
 3 53 Spirit Kristie Mewis

 

CAUTIONS AND EJECTIONS
Time Team ## Player Card Reason
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