Cary, N.C. (11/02/2024) – The Washington Spirit defeated the North Carolina Courage, 1-0, in the team’s regular season finale, capping off an historic regular season. The victory clinches the No. 2 seed for the Spirit in the NWSL Playoffs and marks the club’s 18th win of the season, tied for the most in NWSL history with the 2024 Orlando Pride.
The Spirit’s starting lineup featured a welcome change with the addition of Trinity Rodman back on the wing after a few matches coming off the bench. Annaïg Butel replaced Esme Morgan – who recently returned from international duty with the English National Team – on the back line and Casey Krueger and Hal Hershfelt also returned to the Starting XI after playing for the U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) this week. Additionally, the all-rookie midfield of Hershfelt, Heather Stainbrook and Courtney Brown reprised its form after going 2-0-0 in the last two matches.
Rodman made her presence felt early. First, she dropped a well-placed ball to Ashley Hatch in the box that nearly broke the seal before she whizzed in a laser from well outside the box that drifted just wide of frame. Though, her closest chance came when streaking free and attempting to chip Courage keeper and fellow USWNT teammate Casey Murphy, but Rodman’s attempt had a little bit too much power. Through 35 minutes, Rodman accounted for all five Spirit shots and had a .3 expected goal (xG) tally.
Shortly after Rodman’s fifth shot attempt of the half, Makenna Morris found Hatch who delivered a furious shot toward the far post that hit the net and lifted the Spirit up by one goal in the 37th minute.
The goal was Hatch’s seventh goal of the season and 53rd of her regular season career. This marks the fifth consecutive regular season that Hatch has scored seven or more goals, dating back to 2019. Her 53 career regular season goals tally is one shy of tying Jess McDonald for fifth-most in NWSL history. Additionally, the goal is her tenth (all competitions) versus the Courage, three more than any other player in league history, and the Courage is the second team that Hatch has recorded ten career goals against (Orlando).
Hatch’s goal was the difference in the first half with the Spirit leading, 1-0, after 45 minutes. Notably, the Spirit is unbeaten in its last 34 matches (26-0-8) when leading at half, including a superb 14-0-1 record this season. The Spirit held the Courage without a single shot the entire half.
The Spirit came out of the locker room without making any halftime substitutions, whereas the Courage introduced Denise O’Sullivan and former Spirit player Ashley Sanchez.
The first chance of the night for the Courage came in the 58th minute when Tyler Lussi buried a breakaway goal, but it was quickly overturned and deemed offside. Later, in the 69th minute, the Courage logged its first shot of the match.
Shortly after, the Courage lobbied for a handball when a shot deflected off of a Spirit defender in the box, but play continued with Hatch appearing to score again before she was called offside. After this series of events, the center referee continued play with no VAR called for.
In the 73rd minute, forward Brittany Ratcliffe replaced Brown to mark her 100th career NWSL regular season appearance.
The final 15 minutes of the match were a back-and-forth battle with North Carolina vying for a tying goal, but the Spirit did not relent.
Entering the match, the Courage was unbeaten in its last 21 regular season home games, dating back to the Spirit’s victory at WakeMed Soccer Park in April 2023. Tonight, the Spirit broke that streak, as well as the Courage’s four-game winning streak over the Spirit (all competitions).
Playing the full 90 minutes today, Tara McKeown earned her first Iron Woman season and was the Spirit’s lone player to play every available minute this season. She is the fourth player (sixth occurrence) in Spirit history to do so. Aubrey Kingsbury was one minute shy due to a red card in the season opener that was later rescinded.
Finally, with the win, the Spirit clinched the No. 2 overall seed, earning home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. If the Spirit has to leave home again in 2024, it will be for the 2024 NWSL Championship in Kansas City.
Next Sunday, the Spirit hosts its quarterfinal match against a to-be-determined opponent. That match kicks off at 12:30 p.m. EST. Limited tickets are still available here.
-NWSL Match Report-
Match: North Carolina Courage vs. Washington Spirit
Date: Saturday, November 2, 2024
Venue: WakeMed Soccer Park (Cary, N.C.)
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. EDT
Weather: Partly cloudy, low-60s
Scoring Summary:
Goals
1
2
F
North Carolina
0
0
0
Washington
1
0
1
WAS – Ashley Hatch – 37’ (assisted by Makenna Morris)
