The Washington Spirit beat Bay FC 3-2 on the road in California. The win came in front of 40,091 fans, which was the largest standalone attendance in the history of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). Croix Bethune and Kate Weisner had a goal apiece before being gifted an own goal for a three-nil lead. Bay FC responded in the second half with goals from Racheal Kundananji and Kelli Hubly.
Spirit fans would rejoice as Trinity Rodman started her first match since returning from injury. She was placed on the left side with Kate Weisner on the right and Sofia Cantore at striker. The midfield consisted of Croix Bethune, Leicy Santos, and Hal Hershfelt. The backline featured Rebeca Bernal, Tara McKeown, Gabby Carle, and Esme Morgan.
Just after Croix Bethune had the defense on their toes, Kate Weisner scored her first goal of the season. After the Spirit played the ball short on a corner kick, it was passed around until it came back to Weisner. What started as a simple cross went through the box without interference and beat the keeper to take the Spirit up 1-0.
Bay FC was dispossessed in the midfield, and the Spirit immediately went on the attack. After the ball landed at the foot of Bethune in the middle, she had three defenders on her trail as she weaved in and out of the backline and shot far side to beat Jordan Silkowitz.
The third goal in the first half came just before halftime. Trinity Rodman had acres of space down the left side and applied the pressure. As she penetrated the 18-yard box from the left corner, she put in a cross to Sofia Cantore. With a defender in front of her, Silkowitz overshot her run, and the incoming cross deflected off her back foot into goal.
Bay FC continued to fight and scored just before halftime. Racheal Kundananji beat Aubrey Kingsbury with a header from about 15 yards out off a free kick.
In the 50th minute, Croix Bethune was once again given space to roam throughout the middle, and she took advantage. With options on both sides, she decided to have a go at the keeper on her near side, but went outside the post for a goal kick.
Bay FC tried to mount a response two minutes later when Rachel Hill took a shot at Kingsbury, who had to leap to make the save and deflect the ball out of bounds. The ensuing corner kick led to a goal from Kelli Hubly. As the corner came in, Hubly outjumped her defender and headed the ball past Kingsbury to cut the Spirit’s lead to 3-2.
Spirit defender Tara McKeown went down three times during the match, battling her way through the full 90 minutes plus stoppage time. As the match grew closer to the end, the intensity ramped up with it. That aggression was reflected in Bay FC’s 16 fouls and the six yellow cards they accumulated. Even though they outshot the Spirit 12-9 and completely outpossessed them in the second half, the ladies from the District were able to hang on to earn a crucial three points. The win puts them in second place in the NWSL.
The Spirit can celebrate the big win and start heading home as they’re set to host Chicago Stars FC at Audi Field on Sunday, August 31.
-Jon Jones
Photos: James Lyons