Mallory Pugh of the Washington Spirit (Photo by John Rudoff 7-22-2017)
It was a perfect afternoon for a soccer game, the second time that week that the sun showed up, bringing soccer fans all the way to Boyds, Maryland, to watch Washington Spirits take on Orlando Pride in their home opening game.
Washington was coming from a 2×1 loss the weekend before, and had the pressure of playing home, while Orlando Pride arrived in DC after a simple 1×1 drawn against Utah.
In front of almost five thousand people, the game was balanced with great defenses from both keepers. Eighty minutes in and the score was still tied nil-nil in a match that seemed way less exciting than the last time both teams played against each other last July. Then the ball found Mallory Pugh in her favorite position, open space where she can create and demonstrate why she is the youngest NWSL player in the league. In ten minutes the Spirit found the net twice, the first time with Pugh assisted by Hatch and later by Hatch herself.
Pugh had great opportunities during the game, as said by Spirit coach Jim Gaberra, “We saw it in the eighth and the 10th and probably the 15th and 20th minute as well.”
On the other side, the Pride were missing some of their key players, the Brazilian trio, Marta, Monica, and Camila were on international duty playing from Brazil National team for the Copa America Femenina, and the American soccer star Alex Morgan was out with a concussion.
In contrast, the Spirit had only one player out Estefania Banini, playing for Argentina.
Banini may not have the opportunity to play against the Pride trio this round, but she will be playing against them during the Brazil vs Argentina, on April 5th in Chile. The Brazilian team will be using some of their biggest players including two of the three Pride players, Monica and Marta.
Washington Spirit
