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Seattle, Wash. (03/17/2024) – The Washington Spirit fell to Seattle Reign FC, 0-1, in the team’s 2024 NWSL season opener.
Five players made their Spirit debuts on the Starting XI, including three NWSL first round draft selections – Croix Bethune, Hal Hershfelt and Kate Wiesner – and two offseason free agent signees, Casey Krueger and Brittany Ratcliffe. Three NWSL draftees appearing in the Spirit’s Starting XI marked the most of any team this season.
Momentum took a dramatic swing almost instantly in favor of the Reign. In just seven seconds, the Reign earned a penalty kick after Gabby Carle thwarted a wide-open look at goal. Carle was not booked for the offence; however, Seattle’s Bethany Balcer buried the subsequent penalty kick – the fastest goal in the league to this point in the season (2:01). Seattle has not been beaten in its last 16 matches when scoring the opening goal.
Wiesner picked up a yellow card in the 13th minute and would later have her debut cut short with an injury. She would be subbed out for Annaïg Butel.
Outside of a shot from Bethune in the 23rd minute (the team’s only shot in the first half), Aubrey Kingsbury was the lone highlight of the first half. Kingsbury logged five first half saves, her most since the 2019 regular season.
In the second half, two additional Spirit draftees made their NWSL debuts when Makenna Morris and Courtney Brown replaced Ratcliffe and Ashley Hatch, respectively. Following the substitutions, all five Spirit draft signees made appearances in today’s game. Additionally, six players age 25 or younger played significant minutes for the Spirit.
The dynamic of the game seemingly flipped completely when Krueger headed home an equalizer off corner service from Andi Sullivan. After a lengthy delay, the center referee turned to VAR, and ultimately the goal was overturned due to a foul by the Spirit.
Despite a great performance in goal, Kingsbury left the action early after earning a red card for handling a ball outside of the box. This decision was also decided after consulting VAR. Kingsbury will not be available to play in next week’s home opener match.
Next up, the Spirit welcomes fans back to Audi Field as Bay FC comes to town next Saturday, March 23 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available here.
-NWSL Match Report-
Match: Seattle Reign FC vs. Washington Spirit
Date: Sunday, March 17, 2024
Venue: Lumen Field (Seattle, Washington)
Kickoff: 6:00 p.m. EDT
Weather: Sunny, low-60s
Scoring Summary:
| Goals | 1 | 2 | F |
| Seattle | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Washington | 0 | 0 | 0 |
SEA – Bethany Balcer – 3’
Lineups:
SEA: 1 – Claudia Dickey; 17 – Lily Woodham (3 – Lauren Barnes, 63’); 25 – Shae Holmes (22 – Ryanne Brown, 90’+5’); 21 – Phoebe McClernon; 11 – Sofia Huerta; 10 – Jess Fishlock; 5 – Quinn; 91 – Ji So Yun (12 – Olivia Athens, 90’+4’); 6 – Angharad James-Turner (33- Olivia Van der Jagt, 63’); 8 – Bethany Balcer (47 – Emeri Adames, 90’+6’); 9 – Jordyn Huitema
Unused Substitutes: 18 – Laurel Ivory; 23 – Tziarra King; 20 – Sam Meza; 7 – Nikki Stanton
WAS: 1 – Aubrey Kingsbury; 6 – Kate Wiesner (5- Annaïg Butel, 45’+2’); 3 – Casey Krueger; 9 – Tara McKeown; 14 – Gabby Carle; 17 – Hal Hershfelt; 12 – Andi Sullivan; 7 – Croix Bethune (18 – Lyza Bosselmann, 90’+3’); 11 – Ouleye Sarr; 33 – Ashley Hatch (16 – Courtney Brown, 65’); 13 – Brittany Ratcliffe (8 – Makenna Morris, 65’)
Unused Substitutes: 21 – Anna Heilferty; 26 – Paige Metayer; 39 – Chloe Ricketts; 4 – Lena Silano; 22 – Heather Stainbrook
Stats Summary: SEA / WAS
Shots: 15 / 2
Shots On Goal: 6 / 1
Shots Blocked: 5 / 1
Saves: 1 / 5
Tackles Won: 14 / 12
Fouls: 10 / 13
Offsides: 2 / 0
Misconduct Summary:
WAS – Kate Wiesner– 13’ – Yellow Card
WAS – Casey Krueger– 83’ – Yellow Card
WAS – Aubrey Kingsbury 90+1’ – Red Card
