A true game of two halves as in the first 45 minutes it looked like the NC Courage were going to make quick work of the defending champs with goals from Debinha and Taylor Smith in the first half. It took a phenomenal second half effort from the Spirit to draw the game.
The Courage looked the better team in the early goings and wasted no time in taking advantage of a Spirit team that was slow out of the gates. As the Courage’s Debinha was able poke home the loose ball in the box after a sloppy give away by the Spirit in their own half putting them up 1-0 in only the 5th minute.
Only 20 minutes later Courage defender Carson Pickett had an absolute inch perfect pass right in the pathway of Taylor Smith who still had a lot to do with the finish but made no mistakes as she was slotted it beautifully past the Washington Goalkeeper to double their lead in the 26th minute.
All first half the Spirit struggled to ever get in the game, often gifting the Courage with counter attacks with careless passes and unneeded touches in their own half. When they were able to build any attack though they seemed to be missing that final pass as countless build ups came to nothing with passes finding nothing but the Courage’s feet.
Once the second half whistle blew it was a complete different Spirit team. Trinity Rodman became the X-factor for the 2nd half, starting it off with a brilliant half volley shot in the 58th minute to bring the Spirit within one in only the first 15 minutes of the second half.
It only took nine minutes for Washington to strike again as Julia Rodder lofted up the perfect cross right on the head of Ashley Hatch who rose up and powered the header into the bottom left of the goal. The goal in the 67th would lead to a dominate last twenty minutes for the Spirit who kept pushing for the winning goal but came to no avail. Hatch’s goal would prove to be the deciding factor in the game as it ended in a 2-2 draw.
The Spirit look to get their home form back to winning ways as they host the Orlando Pride on Sunday, April 3rd at 4pm. Their last game game before the International break.
The Courage will be back on the road, this time taking on Gotham F.C on Sunday, April 3rd at 3pm. This will be their final game before the International break as well.
