Washington Spirit 1 : 1 Western New York Flash
Sometimes the storybook ending is just not meant to be. On a picture-perfect night at the Maryland SoccerPlex in their first home match of the year it appeared that the soccer gods were smiling on the Washington Spirit. But despite getting a late goal from Katie Stengel three points were not meant to be as Samantha Mewis and the Western New York Flash would draw level late and put a damper on the playoff-clinching party.
Despite featuring two of the most prolific scoring sides in the NWSL the match was as much about midfield possession as it was about goal-scoring chances. Both sides would send probing runs early in the match to test their opponent’s defense. While the Flash built most of their chances from the center of the pitch the Spirit did most of their attacking work out wide.
The Spirit nearly broke through the deadlock in the 25th minute when midfielder Joanna Lohman knocked a header off of a corner kick on target. Although Lohman’s chance appeared to beat goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo it would go over the bar. The Spirit would be unlucky again in the 40th minute when a free kick taken by Christine Nairn would go over the bar.
Western New York would have their own opportunities late in the first half. Lynn Williams broke through the Spirit defense in the 37th minute. The NWSL leading goal-scorer hit a scintiallating shot on target but would be denied by Spirit goalkeeper Kelsey Wys.
In the second half, the Spirit attack came alive thanks in part to the play of forward Crystal Dunn. Although Dunn could not physically match the size of left-back Jaelene Hinkle she was able to use her speed to develop several goal-scoring opportunities. In the 62nd minute her shot from the right at the edge of the eighteen. The United States Women’s National team member would be denied her first goal of the season as D’ Angelo made the sprawling save.
Dunn however would not be denied. In the 68th minute she would hit Katie Stengel on a diagonal pass deep inside the Flash penalty box. The former Bayern Munich forward would dance around D’Angelo and bury her second goal of the 2016 campaign.
But just as they had done in the previous two matches the Flash would strike late. After failing to capitalize on two mistakes from the Spirit defense, Mewis would hammer home the equalizer in the 86th minute. Her bullet from the top of the eighteen yard box would be her fourth goal of the 2016 NWSL campaign.
The Spirit would have their own chance for late-match heroics as Dunn would once again get past Hinkle in injury. As with her earlier opportunity she would be foiled by D’Angelo who would add to her six saves on the night.
With the draw the Spirit add to their six point edge over Portland Thorns FC for first in the NWSL standings (11-3-2, 36 points). The club will host the Seattle Reign on Wednesday night(7pm EST). Meanwhile the Flash (8-5-3, 27 points) will continue their four game road trip in Boston on Wednesday when they battle the Breakers (7pm).
Washington Spirit-Kelsey Wys, Caprice Dydasco, Estelle Johnson, Megan Oyster, Ali Krieger, Christine Nairn, Tori Huster, Joanna Lohman, Cheyna Williams (Diana Matheson 55′), Katie Stengel (Shelina Zadorsky 79′), and Crystal Dunn
Goal- Stengel (64′)
Yellow Card- Matheson (84′)
Western New York Flash-Sabrina D’ Angelo, Jaelene Hinkle, Alanna Kennedy, Abby Dahlkemper, Elizabeth Eddy (Taylor Smith 78′), McCall Zerboni (MacKenzy Doniak 80′), Abby Erceg, Samanth Mewis, Lianne Sanderson, Lynn Williams, and Jessica Williams
Goal- Mewis (85′)
Yellow Card- Eddy (40′)
Attendance: 4,527
