Spirit push past Dash in final game of Challenge Cup preliminary stage

Washington Spirit  |   July 12, 2020
Spirit push past Dash in final game of Challenge Cup preliminary stage Featured Image

Alejandra Martin
Washingtonspirit.com

Boyds, Md. (7/12/20) – The Washington Spirit closed the preliminary round of the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup with a 1-0 win against the Houston Dash on Sunday night at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman, Ut. 

The Spirit will finish the preliminary round with seven points, and will receive seeding for the knockout stages after this weekend’s fixtures have concluded.

From the start, the Washington Spirit found themselves in the attacking third of the field often. Within the first 15 minutes, the Spirit had three clear chances but all were saved by Houston goalkeeper Jane Campbell. 

At the 16th minute, forward Kumi Yokoyama received a ball on the right flank from Tori Huster, then found forward Ashley Hatch at the top of the box who then distributed the ball to midfielder Bayley Feist with space at the top of the box. Feist struck a quick, right-footed attempt to the bottom-left corner the goal, beating an outstretched Campbell to give the Spirit the lead.

The Spirit continued creating opportunities and controlling the game for the rest of the first half, heading into the break with a 1-0 lead, eight shots on goal and 69% possession, limiting the Houston Dash attack to only two shots after 45 minutes.

In the second half, the Spirit continued dictating the tempo of the game. Within the first ten minutes, forward Ashley Sanchez beat her marker running down the left flank and cut inside to find Hatch, whose attempt was saved by Campbell.

The Dash answered with a chance of their own in the 67th minute when forward Katie Stengel cut onto her left foot and put a shot on target, but a flying header from defender Paige Nielsen denied the goal-scoring opportunity.

The knockout round of the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup will be played on Friday, July 17 and Saturday, July 18. The teams will know their fate in the knockout round after tomorrow’s matches conclude.

 

-NWSL Match Report-

Match: Washington Spirit vs Houston Dash

Date: July 12, 2020

Venue: Zions Bank Stadium

Kickoff: 12:30 p.m. ET

Weather: Sunny, low 90s

Scoring Summary:

Goals 1 2 F
Washington 1 0 1
Houston 0 0 0

 

WAS – Feist 16’

Lineups:

WAS (4-3-3): 1-Aubrey Bledsoe; 23-Tori Huster; 14-Paige Nielsen; 3-Sam Staab; 9-Tegan McGrady (45’ 7-Jaye Boissiere); 19-Dorian Bailey; 13-Bayley Feist; 12-Andi Sullivan (c) (50’ 8-Meggie Dougherty-Howard); 2-Ashley Sanchez (79’ 5-Brooke Hendrix); 33-Ashley Hatch (77’ 22-Jenna Hellstrom;); 17-Kumi Yokoyama (70’ 6-Katie McClure)

Unused Substitutes: 25-Devon Kerr; 31-Crystal Thomas; 21 Katie Lund; 4-Natalie Jacobs; 24-Kaiya McCullough; 26-Meghan McCool; 16-Averie Collins

HOU (4-3-3): 1-Jane Campbell; 2-Allysha Chapman; 17-Erin Simon (64‘ 9-Haley Hanson); 24-Katie Naughton; 23-Ally Prisock; 13-Sophie Schmidt; 19-Kristie Mewis; 6-Shea Groom (86’ 5-Cecelia Kizer); 3-Rachel Daly (c); 12-Veronica Latsko (64’ 8-Nichelle Prince); 7-Katie Stengel (82’ 14-Brianna Visalli)

Unused Substitutes: 99-Amanda Dennis; 10-Christine Nairn; 20-Lindsey Harris; 26-Bridgette Andrzejewski; 16-Kayla McCoy; 24-Jamia Fields; 4-Maegan Oyster; 28-Cambria Privett

Stats Summary: WAS / HOU

Shots: 13 / 7

Shots on Target: 8 / 1

Saves: 1 / 6

Blocked Shots: 3 / 2

Fouls: 10 / 4

Offside: 4 / 7

Misconduct Summary:

HOU – Katie Naughton 12’ – Yellow Card

HOU – Sophie Schmidt 45+2’ – Yello Card

Officials:

Referee: Katja Koroleva

Assistant Referee 1: Walt Heatherly

Assistant Referee 2: Meghan Mullen

Fourth Official: Tori Penso

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