Spirit fall to Red Stars at home, 0-1

Washington Spirit  |   July 2, 2021
Spirit fall to Red Stars at home, 0-1 Featured Image

Sara Campbell & Luke Bennett
WashingtonSpirit.com

Leesburg, VA, (07/02/2021) – The Washington Spirit fell in their eighth match of the 2021 NWSL regular season on Friday night, 0-1, at Segra Field in Leesburg, VA.

The Spirit opened Friday’s match on the offensive as the nineteen-year-old rookieTrinity Rodman found clearance for an open shot in the seventh minute that sailed just above the crossbar. Dorian Bailey, the eighth overall pick in the 2019 NWSL Draft, had two chances from the corner flag in the ninth and sixteenth minute marks; however, the Spirit had nothing to show for. 

Similarly, the Red Stars failed to capitalize on any early opportunities on goal. Both teams were unable to find a rhythm until Mallory Pugh’s 20th-minute lofted free kick — which Aubrey Bledsoe saved — kick-started Chicago’s offense. In the 30th-minute, Chicago proved to be on the front foot with Kealia Watt’s attempted shot on goal which was again blocked by Bledsoe. Pugh, a recent USWNT snub, drove a corner inside the box that resulted in the first goal of the match, a 33rd-minute own goal by Julia Roddar.

The next several minutes were mostly played in Chicago’s possession, including two additional chances from the corner attempted by Pugh. Despite this, just before the end of the first half, the Spirit seemingly gained momentum from a Rodman spin move that set up Roddar for a shot that went wide.

Rodman picked up where she left off in the early stages of the second half, getting a shot off inside the box that rolled inches wide-left. Chicago immediately answered with a Watt shot directed at, and saved by, Bledsoe.

There was little to report until the 60th-minute, when Tara McKeown was substituted for an injured Rodman who left the field grasping her back. Following the substitution, the Spirit fired off four shots that never made it to net, all of which were blocked by Chicago defenders. The Spirit then brought in Anna Heilferty for Roddar in the 67th-minute. 

With fifteen minutes remaining in the second half, a Watt shot nailed the post and nearly crossed the goal line.The game grew chippy following the Red Stars’ opportunity, with both teams vying for crucial possession of the ball.

The final ten minutes saw the introduction of several players for both teams — including Kumi Yokoyama and Camryn Biegalski for the Spirit — and limited offensive action. Ultimately, several Spirit attempts to close the match in extra time were fruitless, and the match ended with a Red Stars’ victory, 1-0. 

For their next league fixture, the Spirit will clash against the North Carolina Courage on Saturday, July 10 at 7:00 pm ET at Audi Field and will be broadcast live on Paramount+ (USA).

-NWSL Match Report-

Match: Washington Spirit vs. Chicago Red Stars

Date: July 02, 2021

Venue: Segra Field

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET

Weather: Sunny, mid-70s

Scoring Summary:

Goals 1 2 F
Washington 0 0 0
Chicago 1 0 1

CHI – Julia Roddar (OG)  – 33’ 

Lineups:

CHI (4-2-3-1):  38-Cassie Miller; 11-Sarah Gorden; 28-Kayla Sharples; 3- Arin Wright; 6-Casey Krueger; 13-Morgan Gautrat; 16-Sarah Woldmoe; 10-Vanessa Dibernardo; 2-Kealia Watt (4-Alyssa Mautz 84’); 15- Makenzy Doniak; 9-Mallory Pugh (33-Katie Johnson 90’+1)

Unused Substitutes: 21-  Emily Boyd; 14- Ella Morse; 18- Ella Stevens; 19-Sarah Luebbert;; 23-Tatumn Milazzo; 5-Rachel Hill; 

WAS (4-2-3-1): 1-Aubrey Bledsoe; 9-Tegan McGrady (30-Camryn Biegalski 80’); 3-Samantha Staab; 14-Paige Neilsen (17-Kumi Yokoyama 80’); 23-Tori Huster; 19-Dorian Bailey; 12-Andi Sullivan; 16-Julia Roddar (21-Anna Heilferty 67’); 10-Ashley Sanchez; 2-Trinity Rodman (27-Tara McKeown 60’); 33-Ashley Hatch 

Unused Substitutes: 31- Sydney Schneider; 18-Devon Kerr; 20-Mariana Speckmaier; 24- Chinyelu Asher; 11- Jordan Dibiasi

Stats Summary: WAS / CHI

Shots: 13 / 11

Shots on Target: 1 / 2

Saves: 2 / 1

Blocked Shots: 7 / 3

Fouls: 9 / 6

Offside: 0 / 1

Misconduct Summary:

N/A

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