Washington Spirit 1-Sky Blue FC 0
It is never easy to break a winless streak, let alone a goalless streak. But that is just what the Washington Spirit did on Wednesday night. Thanks to a goal from Ashley Hatch the Spirit defeated Sky Blue FC 1-0 on Wednesday night at the Maryland SoccerPlex.
In the first half both sides played very cautiously, looking to build momentum from their spine and hopefully find an opening to exploit. Spirit midfielder Rebecca Quinn held on to possession for large portions of the first 15 minutes looking to link up with Mallory Pugh and Francisca Ordega on the attack. But Sky Blue’s defense was more than up to the task of making several interceptions or deflections off of passes intended to go up top.
As for Sky Blue their plan of attack was simple: get Janine Beckie the ball and let her create scoring chances. The Spirit defense held back the Australian international using a combination of Quinn and Estelle Johnson to push her wide and get her back against the goal.
She did start to find chances late in the first though with her best chance coming in the 42nd minute. After getting the ball away from Quinn, the Sky Blue midfield found Beckie with space to operate in the attacking third. Right on the edge of the eighteen yard box Beckie ripped a low curling effort towards the far left post of the Spirit goal. Washington goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe made an excellent read of Beckie’s intentions, timing her dive to push the shot wide of the goal.
After having survived a bit of a scare the Spirit attack went on the offensive. Their attacking efforts stunted early on Ordega and Pugh started finding success with diagonal runs down the left side. In the 42nd minute Pugh slipped a pass inside Sky Blue territory right for a surging Ordega. The Nigerian international’s shot though skidded just wide of the goal.
After seeing a bit of space late in the first half to exploit Washington continued to press at the start of the second. With Pugh and Banini serving as the conductors Washington strung together several extended series of passes aimed at frustrating the Sky Blue defense and forcing them out of the position.
In the 73rd minute off of a foul on Banini by Sky Blue midfielder Raquel Rodriguez Washington were given a free kick from about 40 yards out. Spirit midfielder Andi Sullivan made the most of this chance, hitting a high, swerving chance into the box for Hatch. Hatch got a good read on the ball and using her head put the shot past Sheridan for her second goal of the season.
Sky Blue did have a couple of chances to equalize with the best coming off of a set piece in the 84th minute. Carli Lloyd’s cross into the box found a Sky Blue player but Bledsoe was there to make the save.
With the win the Spirit snap a six game winless run that dates back to their 2-0 win over the Orlando Pride from April. They will hope to continue their run of positive form on Sunday when they travel to Houston to take on the Dash (5/27, 8PM EST/7 PM CST, go90). Joining the side will be midfielder Rose LaVelle, who made her first appearance with the Spirit on Wednesday via substitution in the 74th minute. LaVelle joined the Spirit in the offseason via the Boston Breakers Dispersal Draft but had been sidelined due to injury.
As for Sky Blue they return on Saturday looking for their first win of the 2018 NWSL season. They will take on the Seattle Reign (7pm EST/4pm PST, go90).
RESULTS
Washington Spirit-Aubrey Bledsoe, Caprice Dydasco, Whitney Church, Taylor Smith, Estelle Johnson, Rebecca Quinn (Tori Huster 46′), Andi Sullivan, Estefania Banini (Rose Lavelle 74′), Mal Pugh, Francisca Ordega (Meggie Dougherty-Howard 84′), and Ashley Hatch.
Goal- Hatch (64′- Assist: Sullivan)
Yellow Card- Ordega (16′)
Sky Blue FC– Kailen Sheridan, Erika Skroski (Christina Gibbons 51′), Amanda Frisbie, Mandy Freeman, Rebekah Stott,Erica Skroski, Carli Lloyd, Sarah Killion, Raquel Rodriguez (Shea Groom 74′), Janine Beckie, Katlyn Johnson, and Madison Tiernan (Savannah McCaskill 61′)
Washington Spirit
