Led by two first-half goals from forward Makenna Morris, the Washington Spirit defeated Racing Louisville FC 4-1 on Sunday night. After the match, Head Coach Jonatan Giráldez, Morris, forward Ashley Hatch, and midfielder Hal Hershfelt spoke with the media.
On the controlling possessions in the first 20 minutes of the game:
Giráldez: For me today, the most important thing was to create that confidence, adjust the height of the midfield with Courtney (Brown) and Heather (Stainbrook). Today we put Hal as a number six. When we need more players in buildup, it drops a little bit, the positions of Courtney and Heather. I think they identified very well today in terms of height — when they have to be in pockets, when they have to drop and be in base. For me, it was the same thing for several players. For Paige (Metayer) and Gabby (Carle) today, they did a good job in terms of height. When they have to be low to create an option for the ball, when they have to be high to beat the opposing wing, they just adjust. That’s the type of height the team needs, today we identified very well, especially inside, what we need to have control of the game.
On manufacturing goals when we don’t have the ball:
Giráldez: I think we create a lot of chances, the first 30-35 minutes, in the beginning of the game we created a lot of chances. We were we not clinical sometimes because of the decision to shot or put the ball into the net was not good enough. Then, I think we keep insisting. We were creating a lot of chances, playing in base and outside players to go forward. It is very important. One of the keys in the beginning of the game is to try and connect the environment and the supporters, and Audi Field. For us, they are going to be very important for playoffs and have a good start. When you create chances, when you are winning tackles, you have to celebrate, when you create corners. For me, it’s a good point to start, to connect the people, because it depends on us, if we create chances, they are going to be more connected. We are going to need them. They will be player number 12. I think we have a good start. The second half we started really good, too. We have to keep going.
On Rosemonde Kouassi and Morris having a big influence today, with some crucial players missing:
Giráldez: They did a good job today. Usually, we play with the left winger coming inside to pocket, but today we thought the best for the team was to play with the wingers open. We have to modify. People were asking me, ‘After Andi’s (Sullivan) injury, what we have to do differently now?’ We are proving that we have solutions in terms of that, especially. When you can create chances in the way you expect to before the game, with Rose, with Makenna, getting in the box and having a lot of 1-v-1 situations, we did a good job. When you score, you always say, ‘Okay, you did a good job,’ because you scored, but for me, in possession and out of possession, they did a good, good job today. It was not easy, especially out of possession, because they were modifying all the whole their build up, the shapes and how the holding midfielder was dropping wide, sometimes playing with three, other times with four. It was hard, but we were smart enough to play against them. I need options, maybe for starting, the last game we were not playing with Trin (Trinity Rodman), but the team is playing very well. When you have so many players available to compete as they did today, I am happy for that.
On how the team came together this week:
Giráldez: We were playing the last three games in our away week. Today, after the game against Orlando, I was speaking about that game, and we did a good job. We have to keep believing in the way that we are practicing in training sessions and in the way that we are competing as we did today and having a good start. For me it’s always about the mentality. How can you face that after bad news? In the beginning, I said we had ‘too many good news.’ Now when you have bad news, you have to face your best and give your best. It’s not just about having intensity. The players have intensity. It’s about the mental preparation. Give respect in the game plan, giving your best in each 50/50, keeping persistent, especially when we play at home because the supporters, we know they are very important. We did nothing so far. We did good to keep building, and the next week we are going to have a tough game against Chicago, so this is the way that we have to face Chicago.
On if this team looks like a championship team:
Giráldez: We need to improve. We are not going to win if we just play as we did today. We have to keep building. I think in the first half, we did that. It was not perfect. We had lack of decisions, especially in the last 30 meters. Sometimes, we shot when we have to make more passes, sometimes we put the ball into the box when we had other passes to be more compact and be aware for the second ball, in cases where we lost the ball. In the second half, they created chances. They created two, three good chances. We have to analyze after the game what we did in the right direction, what we have to improve, and face the week as we always do. This is a good job, but we have to keep improving on that. Now, we have a clean week to keep practicing in training everything in terms of soccer and game plans and prepare the team for the future. I never liked to say when you win, ‘Okay, you did a good job.’ When you win, you have to analyze what you did bad and put a focus on that, especially during the week. I always did in my past. That’s my methodology. I consider that’s the best for the team. Just not paying too much attention to the result, we are here to win. We have to improve individual performance and the collective performance. The next week is going to be the same week as we did after the Orlando game.
On the importance of getting home field advantage for the first playoff match:
Giráldez: Very, very important. When you win, when you get three points, when you score four goals, when you have around 19 shots during the game, you have to celebrate the victory. We have to share the end of the game with the supporters, signing and taking pictures. That is very important because when you are training so hard in the way we are training and after losing the game and after Andi’s injury, we need good news. So, show a performance, show the performance that we did today, and give us the confidence that we are going to need for the future.
Giráldez: For me, she can play three positions. Against Orlando, she was playing in the beginning in the right back position, but build up with three. So, it’s a role she can do. Today, she played as center left back with Tara (McKeown). She’s doing a good job. The adaptation from the beginning has been good. She is a good person; she’s nice. The players had a good welcome with her. When you are happy, when you are integrated, when you speak the same language, it is just easier for her to adapt. And she is very smart, especially in possession. Build up situations, she can commit mistakes, but she has not been committing a lot of mistakes during build up. That is very difficult, especially when you try to play inside. When you try to play inside, and you are getting success every time you play inside it is because the level that she has is really high. We are putting the focus out of possession, in the way that we have to defend. In the past, playing for Man(chester) City and for the national team, too, they like to have a good build up situation, with other players ready to run behind. Here, you need to be consistent, especially when you lose the ball in terms of receiving in terms of when you have to jump, when you have to bump, when you have to run back. I am very happy so far with the performance that she is having. It’s the same as I was saying before about the team; we need to keep improving her for the most important games of the season.
On playing for injured teammates, and how it can help the team throughout playoffs:
Giráldez: We have players to compete. We have important players, for example Heather and Courtney. They did a brilliant job playing in pockets and base. Hal had a different role today, playing as a six, and she did a perfect job for me in possession and out of possession. We have other players available to modify their roles. Usually, when you are living in a complex system, as a human being, as an athlete, you need to occupy different things that we are not going have with Andi. We need that leadership with other players, we need to have a good communication because we don’t have Andi. Other players need to make up a step forward, in terms of tactical play, it’s the same thing. We need other players now, to take the responsibility in possession and out of possession, to make sure that we are feeling comfortable because we train for that. I never liked to, when you have your Starting XI, and you are always using the same Starting XI, when you are not giving too much confidence to other ones, but I think so far, personally, we were giving too many chances to other players to play. You never know, if you ever want to play Lena (Silano), for example, she only played 10 minutes, but she scored the last goal. Makenna was not playing in the starting the last game, but today she played, and she scored two goals. We need the whole team to keep competing until the end because you are not going to win with just 11, 12, or 13 players; you are going to win with the whole team.
On Hershfelt playing in and out of the six:
Giráldez: She doesn’t have to run so much. She has an amazing energy. Sometimes she needs to be just waiting for the ball. Today, especially, she needs that, to be between the other striker, just behind them, be ready to be an option to receive and scan before receiving the ball to play one, two touches. It’s a dangerous position if you lose the ball. Especially because we have Heather and Courtney close, just dropping. Today, for Hal, before the game we were discussing about it, she needs to be aware about who is around her to make sure she is going to be in the place all the time, that the center back needs, also in the last meters. In the last game, we were asking her to arrive to the box to try to create chances. Today, just making a good rest defense, being aware of that. How you are in a good position? If we lose the ball, how can we regain the ball possession? It has been more static. I feel like we are going to help her a lot because we need that energy but sometimes not all the time. So, to play her as a six, you need to reduce the tempo, and make sure that everything you are doing in possession is being in the right direction.
On what the feeling is after winning this match and what the key components were for securing the win:
Hatch: We are thrilled to win this match, to be back in front of our home fans has been really exciting. I think the key to this match was just everyone stepping up and doing they’re best. Scoring goals nice and early really helps, but I think a lot of individuals stepped up today and played really well, and we played well as a unit. So, I think we need to continue to build out.
On the importance of coming back to a win at home after three away games:
Hershfelt: I think playing in front of our fans is such a great thing to have for us. It gives us energy on the field. I know all of us feel so much better when we’re at home, being able to put it all out there for our home fans. The three game away stint was hard. It is hard on your body. It’s hard mentally. We’ve had a trip like that before in the past, and it is just as hard even though we got to have pit stops in between at home. It was really nice to be back.
On how the Spirit made changes in the midfield and how those adjustments went throughout this game:
Hershfelt: Two out of the three in the midfield were new today, and I think that those people stepped up – Heather and Courtney. I thought they did a phenomenal job. It’s so different not having Andi there. That’s my “base buddy.” I miss her a lot. I know she’s going to be out this season. It’s a pivotal point in the season, playoffs and everything, so it’s getting us to step up in the midfield.
What Morris saw that allowed her to get a read on Louisville’s goalie and intercept for a quick goal:
Morris: I think our coaches do a really good job of prepping us before games, so, for me, it was just following the game plan and being able to follow what the coaches give us. So, in that moment, I knew where I had to be, and I was able to win the ball.
Hatch: And smash it in.
Hershfelt: I know that was crazy.
On the power behind Morris’ first goal:
Morris: It was a rocket. I just saw the near post open, and I saw she was coming across. So, I was like, ‘If I hit it as hard as I can in the near post, hopefully she can’t get there.’
On if Hershfelt and Morris thought they could replicate this at the professional level after doing so at Clemson:
Hershfelt: I’m just going to confidently say, ‘yes.’ I personally always love playing with Makenna. She is such a dynamic player, especially when she gets the freedom up top. It’s just been really cool to come from college together to here, jus seeing both of us flourish in this environment. I feel like they give us the tools to do that here. Our teammates and our coaches give us what we need to really do that.
Morris: I’ll second that. Going from college to here and seeing how much Hal has grown and absolutely dominated in the midfield just whenever we get a chance to play with each other, there’s a connection there. For us, going from college to here and taking that step, it’s amazing.
On if playing for Sullivan is similar to what the team felt in 2021 playing for Tori Huster:
Hatch: Yeah, definitely. I’ve thought about that as well. Tori, her injury came at a very unfortunate time, very big, key player for us. Same thing with Andi. We wouldn’t be where we are now without Andi, so I think it’s only right to continue to play for her and to work hard for her because we all know that she would die to be able to play in these playoff games. It definitely gives us a little extra motivation to do it for her. I would definitely say some of those feelings are the same from 2021.
The importance to the players of having a home advantage going into the playoffs:
Morris: I think it’s such a huge advantage. Today was kind of a demonstration of what we do at home. So, I think for us, it’s setting an example of what we like to do at home going into playoffs. I mean everyone loves to play in front of the DC fans. Our team loves it. The fans are amazing, so it’s a great advantage for us to be able to play at home.
On how Hershfelt has worked to manage her energy while playing:
Hershfelt: I’ve definitely had to learn how to pick and choose my moments to dial it up. I think, especially with my position in the midfield, I feel like it takes a lot of positional discipline, especially tonight when I’m playing a single six. So when I do play with too much energy sometimes, I can find myself in an area where I shouldn’t be, and then I have to run 70 to 80 yards back instead of like 20. Just picking and choosing my moments when to use that intensity. I feel like out of possession, I can use it to win the ball back, but when I’m in possession, I’ve got to make good decisions. It’s a balance.
On what has been an important aspect of being able to reach 150 regular season appearances:
Hatch: I think a lot of these appearances have been with the Spirit, so mostly my teammates helping me, supporting me through all the ups and downs throughout the years. There’s been lots of highs and lots of lows. I think technical staff but also medical team just helping me stay healthy and be available for all these games. Lots of people — my family, my husband, supporting me through everything. There are lots of people to give credit to that have helped me get to this milestone.
On where Hatch’s 150 appearance picture frame will be hung:
Hatch: I’m not sure yet. Probably somewhere on the wall, but I’m not sure yet.
On if the team is ready to win the NWSL Championship as they enter playoffs in the coming weeks:
Hershfelt: Absolutely.
Hatch: Yes, easiest question of the night.
Morris: Oh, absolutely.
On what the players would say to younger players:
Hatch: Honestly, I would say my best advice for these children is to not give up. When I look at this frame [celebrating her 150th appearance], I often think of all the obstacles that I overcame, all the challenges, injuries, not starting, starting, losing. I think a lot more about the challenges than I do all the victories and the person I’ve become because of those challenges and overcoming them. So, I would tell them not to give up and see this challenge that they are going through as an opportunity to learn and to grow because the lessons that you learn through those challenges of wanting to give up and choosing not to, are going to be the lessons that you take in life – not only in football. That would be my advice, and I learned that lesson over and over, and I’m sure I’ll continue to learn it, but that’s definitely my advice.
What were the key takeaways from the players meeting this week that helped them get through the struggle of Sullivan being injured:
Morris: Andi is such a special person for our team – on and off the field. She’s just such a special human being; she’s amazing. I think for all of us, we were just so heartbroken and sad for her, but it’s also the energy that she constantly brings whenever she’s out on the field that for us it was about how can we embody that? How can we continue to play for Andi and turn that sadness into a moment of bringing ourselves together and playing for Andi, for Croix, and all the other people that are hurt? I think for us it was like, ‘Let’s play for them, for those who can’t, and let’s give our all on every game.’ I know if Andi was out here, if Croix (Bethune) was out here, Civana (Kuhlmann), Anna (Heilferty), and all of them, they would be giving their absolute all. So for us, it was embodying that.
On how the Spirit adjusted to Louisville changing formations throughout the match:
Hershfelt: First of all, I think that’s a compliment to us. Our game plan was very successful. I feel like, honestly, in practices, in meetings, stuff like that, Jona (Jonatan Giráldez) has talked about it — not everything is going to be on the whiteboard when we talk about it in pregame meetings and stuff like that. Dealing with it on the fly. Yes, we have their help on the sideline, but at the end of the day, we have to talk to each other and come up with solutions sometimes.
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