Boyds, MD (September 2, 2018) – The Washington Spirit earned a 1-1 draw against Sky Blue FC on Sunday morning in the club’s 2018 season finale at the Maryland SoccerPlex.
Washington’s season finale kicked off at 10 a.m. ET Sunday morning after the match was postponed Saturday night due to thunderstorms in the area.
Following a scoreless first half, Washington struck first in the 71st minute when Ship cleaned up a loose ball in the box, finishing the Spirit’s third chance on the play with a tap-in after an initial shot by Francisca Ordega was saved, and a second attempt by Ship was also saved. [WATCH]
Sky Blue equalized in the 87th minute on a long distance blast by Sarah Killion taken from outside the box. Madison Tiernan provided the assist on the play with a pass back to Killion, who powered a shot into the top left corner of the net.
Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe stopped five of the six shots on target that she faced, finishing the season with an NWSL record 108 saves. Her fourth save of the match pushed her past Chicago’s Alyssa Naeher for the most in a single season, with a mark of 106 set in 2014.
Bledsoe’s five-save outing was an eventful one, starting with a tough diving save in the fifth minute on a close range shot by Tiernan taken from the center of the box. [WATCH]
Bledsoe and the Spirit also benefited from a missed penalty kick in the 27th minute, as Shea Groom’s attempt struck the front of the crossbar before being cleared away.
Washington and Sky Blue each put six shots on frame in Sunday’s draw, as Ordega led all players with three on-target shots. Ordega, Sky Blue’s Jennifer Hoy and Groom tied for the most total shots with five each.
The Spirit’s starting lineup featured three National Team Replacement Players (NTR), including Zoe Clark, Megan Crosson and Tiffany McCarty. Another NTR, Alexa Newfield, made her Spirit debut in the 70th minute when she came in for McCarty.
-NWSL Match Report-
Match: Washington Spirit vs. Sky Blue FC
Date: September 2, 2018
Venue: Maryland SoccerPlex
Kickoff: 10 a.m. ET
Attendance: 3,462
Weather: Mid-80s, sunny
Scoring Summary:
| Goals | 1 | 2 | F |
| Washington | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Sky Blue FC | 0 | 1 | 1 |
71’ – Arielle Ship (WAS)
87’ – Sarah Killion (NJ)
Lineups:
WAS: (4-2-3-1) 1-Aubrey Bledsoe; 5-Whitney Church; 31-Zoe Clark; 13-Megan Crosson; 3-Caprice Dydasco; 17-Cali Farquharson; 15-Joanna Lohman; 8-Meggie Dougherty Howard; 36-Tiffany McCarty; 9-Havana Solaun; 14-Francisca Ordega
Substitutions: 58’ 2-Arielle Ship (Cali Farquharson); 70’ 18-Alexa Newfield (Tiffany McCarty)
Substitutes Not Used: 38-Morgan Ruhl; 7-Taylor Smith
NJ: (4-4-2) 1-Kailen Sheridan; 8-Erica Skroski; 22-Mandy Freeman; 17-Domi Richardson; 9-Amanda Frisbie; 16-Sarah Killion; 73-Madison Tierman; 31-Christina Gibbons; 7-Jennifer Hoy; 6-Shea Groom; 2-McKenzie Meehan
Substitutions: 70’ 29-Amandine Pierre-Louis (Jennifer Hoy); 83’ 24-Nickolette Driesse (McKenzie Meehan); 89’ 15-Eliza Bona (Madison Tierman)
Substitutes Not Used: 13-Rebekah Scott; 18-Gabby Cuevas; 27-Caroline Casey
Stats Summary: WAS / NJ
Possession: 40.5% / 59.5%
Shots: 10 / 20
Shots on Goal: 6 / 6
Saves: 5 / 5
Corner Kicks: 5 / 6
Fouls: 14 / 7
Offside: 5 / 3
Misconduct Summary:
58’ Yellow Card – Sarah Killion (NJ)
Officials:
Referee: Mike Hohnholz
Assistant Referee 1: Matthew Osterhouse
Assistant Referee 2: Jordan Davis
Fourth Official: Max Smith
