Spirit Retains First Place in NWSL after 2-1 win over Orlando Pride

Washington Spirit  |   August 26, 2016
Spirit Retains First Place in NWSL after 2-1 win over Orlando Pride Featured Image

Photo Credit: Roy K. Miller/ISI Photos

ORLANDO, FL (Aug 26, 2016) – The Washington Spirit (11-3-2, 35 points) stayed atop the NWSL standings with a 2-1 win over the Orlando Pride (6-10-0, 18 points) at Camping World Stadium in Orlando in front of 7,052 fans. In the second ever match between the teams, Christine Nairn and Cheyna Williams scored to give the Spirit the three points. The Pride’s Sarah Hagen halved the lead with a goal midway through the second half, but it was not enough for the Pride to come back and force the draw.

The Spirit earned the first goal of the night when defender Caprice Dydasco made a run down the left flank, outrunning the Pride’s defense. Dydasco flicked the ball to Williams who took a nifty first touch around the Pride’s backline and then took to the net with a driven shot that soared over Pride goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris. This is the second time this season that Dydasco and Williams have combined for a goal.

Nairn earned the second goal of the night, her third in two games, when Katie Stengel was wide open in her run down the right side. The Pride’s defense lost track of the ball and left Nairn completely open while making a far post run. Stengel saw the opportunity and capitalized, sending a pass right to the feet of Nairn, leaving Harris with a slim chance at deflecting the shot.

The Pride saw one of its best opportunities midway through the second half when Kristen Edmonds passed a ball to the feet of Jasmyne Spencer, splitting Spirit defenders at the top of the box. Spencer was positioned one on one with Spirit goalkeeper Kelsey Wys, but the pressure of Wys coming off her line caused Spencer to flick the ball slightly to the left of the goal.

Shortly after, the Pride closed the gap with a goal by Hagen who had come into the game just minutes earlier. Cami Levin sent a cross right across the face of net, and Hagen tapped it in with a run into the six yard box.

The Spirit will play its next match at home in its return to the Plex on Saturday, September 3 against the Western New York Flash at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at tickets.washingtonspirit.com

 

NWSL Match Report

Match: Orlando Pride vs. Washington Spirit
Date: August 26, 2016
Venue: Camping World Stadium
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
Attendance: 7,052
Weather: 84, partly cloudy

Washington Spirit Lineup: 18 Kelsey Wys; 3- Caprice Dydasco, 24- Estelle Johnson, 5- Whitney Church, 11-Ali Krieger; 23- Tori Huster, 7-Christine Nairn, 15- Joanna Lohman; 20- Cheyna Williams (22- Alyssa Kleiner 82′), 17- Cali Farquharson (12- Katie Stengel 46′), 19- Crystal Dunn (14- Francisca Ordega 67′)

Subs not used: 21- Alli Murphy, 36- DiDi Haracic. 4- Megan Oyster, 27- Line Sigvardsen Jensen
Head Coach: Jim Gabarra

Orlando Pride Lineup: 1 Ashlyn Harris; 2- Cami Levin, 3- Toni Pressley, 6- Kaylyn Kyle (4-Jamia Fields 81′), 17- Dani Weatherholt (21- Monica Hickmann 64′); 23- Jasmyne Spencer, 18- Maddy Evans, 12- Kristen Edmonds, 14- Becky Edwards (8- Sarah Hagen 64′), 26- Samantha Witteman; 13- Alex Morgan

Subs not used: 25- Kaitlyn Savage, 15- Allie Wisner, 11- Christina Burkenroad

Head Coach: Tom Sermanni

Team 1 2 Final
Washington Spirit  1  1  2
Orlando Pride  0  1  1
SCORING SUMMARY
Goal Time Team Goal Scorer Assist
 1 37 Washington Cheyna Williams Caprice Dydasco
 2 57 Washington Christine Nairn Katie Stengel
 3 71 Orlando Sarah Hagen Cami Levin
CAUTIONS AND EJECTIONS
Time Team ## Player Card Reason
28 Orlando 3 Toni Pressley Yellow Defensive Handling
35 Washington 11 Ali Krieger Yellow Defensive Handling

Stats Summary: ORL/WAS
Shots: 11 / 13
Shots on Goal: 3 / 5
Saves: 3 / 2
Corner Kicks: 2/ 4
Fouls: 8 / 6
Offside: 1/ 1

Officials:
Referee: Marco Vega
Assistant Referee 1: Tom Felice
Assistant Referee 2: Amber O’Conner
4th Official: Jasmine Peralta

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