Spirit Draws in Third Straight Match

Washington Spirit  |   August 6, 2022
Spirit Draws in Third Straight Match Featured Image

Tyler Lewin

WashingtonSpirit.com

Louisville, KY (08/05/2022) – The Washington Spirit finished with a draw in its third consecutive match after a second-half scoring battle with Racing Louisville FC.

In the opening half of the game, it was Racing Louisville FC who found itself on the front foot. Pressing high up the pitch and pushing a fast pace of play, its first opportunity came in the 12th minute when Davis found herself in on goal off a Nadim flick through. Taking a touch past Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury, Davis was closed down from a recovery sprint by Amber Brooks, pushing Davis just wide of goal and forcing her shot off target.

The Spirit found itself calling on Kingsbury in the 23rd minute off the back of an Amber Brooks giveaway. Attempting to build out of the back, Brooks was caught in possession leading to a Nadim attempt from 12 yards out. Kingsbury made the diving save down to her left-hand side.

Maintaining a few spells of possession, the Spirit was not able to create many opportunities in the half, the most notable of which came in the 27th minute. Trinity Rodman found herself with an opportunity from six yards out off a cross from Tara McKeown. Rodman’s header forced Lund to make a reaction save above her lead, resulting in a Spirit corner.

In the 52nd minute, Louisville broke the deadlock through star striker Nadia Nadim. Nadim found herself with the ball at her feet roughly 16 yards out from goal. Nadim took a prep touch and slotted it home in the bottom left corner past a sprawling Kingsbury. Louisville has now scored in six of its last seven matches.

The Spirit would refuse to back down and was able to generate an opportunity in the 56th minute. Rodman found herself in on goal off a finely threaded through ball from Ashley Sanchez. From six yards out, Rodman was unable to beat Lund, putting the ball just over the net. In the 62nd minute, Rodman fired a ball low across the face of goal, forcing Lund to get a touch and push it out of danger.

On her first game back from injury, Ashley Hatch found the equalizer for the Spirit in the 64th minute. Jordan Baggett assisted the goal by sliding a pass to Hatch who was at the top of the 18.  Hatch, with her first touch of the game, slotted it home on a first-time finish, beating Lund down low at the near post.

In the 73rd minute, Rodman once again found herself in front of goal. Off the back of another Sanchez pass, Rodman received the ball with plenty of open space ten yards out from goal. Taking a prep touch and then firing at goal, Rodman forced Lund to make another overhead save.

Kingsbury was called upon once again, this time in the 82nd minute. It was Nadim who found herself with another opportunity, this one from ten yards out. Taking a touch and firing toward goal, Kingsbury made a diving save to the right, pushing the shot wide and clear of danger yet again.

With both teams continuing to push for the winning goal, Louisville found itself with the last significant chance of the match. In the 85th minute a ball was crossed in and found the head of Nadim, whose resulting header was just high above the net.

The Spirit will return home for a midweek clash against Portland Thorns FC on Wednesday, August 10 at 7:30 p.m. The game will be held at Segra Field in Leesburg, VA, with all other remaining home games being held at Audi Field in Washington, D.C.

-NWSL Match Report-

Match: Racing Louisville FC vs. Washington Spirit

Date: August 5, 2022

Venue: Lynn Family Stadium

Kickoff: 8:00 p.m. ET

Weather: Mostly cloudy, low-80s

Scoring Summary:

Goals 1 2 F
Louisville 0 1 1
Washington 0 1 1

LOU – Nadia Nadim – 52’

WAS – Ashley Hatch – 64’

Lineups:

LOU: 1- Katie Lund; 11- Emily Fox; 44- Satara Murray; 4- Gemma Bonner; 15- Julia Lester; 2- Lauren Milliet; 8- Freja Olofsson (27- Alex Chidiac 70’); 6- Jaelin Howell (14- Jess McDonald 78’); 22- Kirsten Davis (13- Emina Ekic 90’); 10- Nadia Nadim; 7- Savannah DeMelo

Unused Substitutes: 24- Jordyn Bloomer; 21- Parker Goins; 25- Rebecca Holloway; 12- Taylor Malham; 17- Nealy Martin; 30- Zaneta Wyne

WAS: 1- Aubrey Kingsbury; 21- Anna Heilferty (33- Ashley Hatch 46’); 3- Sam Staab; 22- Amber Brooks; 5- Kelley O’Hara; 10- Ashley Sanchez; 12- Andi Sullivan (13- Bayley Feist 65’); 19- Dorian Bailey; 11- Jordan Baggett (7- Taylor Aylmer 65’); 9- Tara McKeown (17- Tinaya Alexander 79’); 2- Trinity Rodman

Unused Substitutes: 30- Camryn Biegalski; 29- Maddie Elwell; 18- Devon Kerr; 4- Karina Rodriguez; 20- Gaby Vincent

Stats Summary: LOU / WAS

Shots: 13 / 12

Shots On Goal: 4 / 6

Saves: 4 / 3

Shots Blocked: 1 / 1

Fouls: 12 / 12

Offsides: 2 / 3

Misconduct Summary:

LOU – Julia Lester – 78’ – Yellow Card

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