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Washington, D.C. (09/15/2024) – The Washington Spirit earned three points in a convincing 3-0 victory over the Houston Dash. The win comes on the heels of clinching a playoff berth for the Spirit, and now all eyes are on November. Four points away from the top place Orlando Pride, the Spirit eyes the NWSL Shield.
The Spirit Starting XI included a few new additions, including the NWSL debut of defender Esme Morgan. The Manchester City product was signed by the Spirit in June. Brittany Ratcliffe featured on the Spirit’s front line, her first home start this season, while Ashley Hatch reprised her role at forward in the starting lineup after a successful performance last week.
Only a handful minutes into the match, Tara McKeown slotted a ball into the Houston box that deflected off a Dash defender. After a VAR review, the Spirit was awarded a penalty kick due to a handball inside the box.
Hatch stepped to the spot and nailed the kick, lifting the Spirit up, 1-0, in the seventh minute. She is now ten-for-ten all-time from the spot in the regular season, making her the only player in NWSL history to take more than six penalties and convert them all. Her ten penalty kick conversions are now tied for the most in Spirit history and fourth-most in NWSL history.
FROM THE SPOT 💪 pic.twitter.com/y9YgOHWGIh
— Washington Spirit – x (@WashSpirit) September 15, 2024
The Spirit has put away all five of its penalty kicks this year, more than any NWSL team. This goal also marks the fastest penalty kick attempted or converted in Spirit history.
Momentum shifted even further when Hatch found the back of the net again in the 26th minute. Trinity Rodman whipped a cross inside the six-yard box that found Hatch’s foot before shooting past Dash keeper Jane Campbell.
TRIN ➡️ HATCH pic.twitter.com/rTeF51tMr1
— Washington Spirit – x (@WashSpirit) September 15, 2024
The goal was Hatch’s 50th career regular season goal (43 for the Spirit, seven for the North Carolina Courage). She is the seventh player in NWSL history to accomplish this feat. The brace, Hatch’s fifth with the Spirit, is the team’s first since Rodman did so against Angel City FC in May.
The Spirit nearly tripled its lead only minutes later when Leicy Santos scored an apparent goal, though following lengthy deliberation, the goal was discounted due to a foul inside the box prior to the goal.
The fourth official indicated a minimum of 14 minutes of first half stoppage time, where the Spirit continued its onslaught of attacks. Ratcliffe nailed two shots off the crossbar to finish off the half, but couldn’t score her fourth goal of the year.
Coming out of the halftime break, the Spirit struck quicker than it did in the first half. Rodman did it herself, dancing past defenders just outside the 18-yard box and rocketing a shot that soared just under the crossbar.
WHAT A BANGER FROM TRIN 🚀 pic.twitter.com/RhGzL4OS7D
— Washington Spirit – x (@WashSpirit) September 15, 2024
The goal brings Rodman to eight this season, tying Ouleye Sarr for the most on the team, and 23 on her career. This career tally brings Rodman level with Diana Matheson for second most in Spirit history. It is also the first instance of Rodman logging a goal and an assist in consecutive matches.
Much like Ratcliffe in the first half, Makenna Morris, who subbed on for Rodman in the 69th minute, narrowly missed two different attempts on goal, including one that hit off the woodwork. Despite numerous attacking efforts, the final score held.
The win secures the regular season series sweep against Houston, the fourth team the Spirit has swept this season (Utah, Bay FC, Gotham FC). The three goals lift the Spirit to 42 total goals scored this season, one shy of the league-high Orlando Pride. Additionally, the Spirit has scored in 18 of 20 matches this season, more than any other NWSL team.
Up next, the Spirit will travel to the midwest for a match against the Kansas City Current on Friday, September 20 at 8 p.m. EDT.
-NWSL Match Report-
Match: Washington Spirit vs. Houston Dash
Date: Sunday, September 15, 2024
Venue: Audi Field (Washington, D.C.)
Kickoff: 1:00 PM EDT
Weather: Sunny, high-70s
Scoring Summary:
| Goals | 1 | 2 | F |
| Washington | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Houston | 0 | 0 | 0 |
WAS – Ashley Hatch – 7′ (PK)
WAS – Ashley Hatch – 26′ (assisted by Trinity Rodman)
WAS – Trinity Rodman – 46’
Lineups:
WAS: 1 – Aubrey Kingsbury; 14 – Gabby Carle; 9 – Tara McKeown; 24 – Esme Morgan; 3 – Casey Krueger (26 – Paige Metayer, 74’); 12 – Andi Sullivan (22 – Heather Stainbrook, 64’); 10 – Leicy Santos (4 – Lena Silano, 64’); 17 – Hal Hershfelt (16 – Courtney Brown, 69’); 13 – Brittany Ratcliffe; 33 – Ashley Hatch; 2 – Trinity Rodman (8 – Makenna Morris, 69’)
Unused Substitutes: 28 – Nicole Barnhart; 5 – Annaïg Butel; 32 – Jenna Butler; 19 – Rosemonde Kouassi
HOU: 1 – Jane Campbell; 2 – Allysha Chapman (6 – Havana Solaun, 46’); 7 – Paige Neilsen (22 – Croix Soto, 90+4’); 33 – Jyllissa Harris; 11 – Michelle Alozie; 17 – Sarah Puntigam; 31 – Elin Rubensson; 30 – Avery Patterson (21 – Ryan Gareis, 75’); 14 – Yuki Nagasato (15 – Barbra Olivieri, 64’); 9 – Diana Ordóñez; 10 – Andressa Alves (19 – Belle Briede, 64’)
Unused Substitutes: 4 – Natalie Jacobs; 18 – Heather Hinz; 40 – Erin Mckinney
Stats Summary: WAS / HOU
Shots: 17 / 6
Shots On Goal: 8 / 2
Saves: 2 / 5
Tackles Won: 12 / 11
Fouls: 11 / 7
Offsides: 3 / 1
Misconduct Summary:
HOU – Allysha Chapman – 45+9’ – Yellow Card
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