The Washington Spirit defeated the visiting Vancouver Rise FC Academy on Wednesday night in a match that felt more like a friendly. With such low attendance for the midweek clash (1,405), bouts of silence were only interrupted by players yelling instructions to one another. Four different Spirit players (Tara McKeown, Heather Stainbrook, Trinity Rodman, and Deborah Abiodun) got on the scoreboard.
Head coach Adrián González’s starting XI consisted of defenders Tara McKeown, Kysha Sylla, and Paige Metayer. Narumi Miura, Courtney Brown, and Heather Stainbrook took up the midfield, balancing first-team vets and reserves. Trinity Rodman was a shock to the lineup for such an opponent. Nonetheless, she was tasked with attacking alongside youngsters Chloe Ricketts, Brittany Ratcliffe, and Gift Monday.
Rise Academy’s Sam Gevaux had a starting XI that consisted of the following: Goalkeeper Jessica Wulf. Defenders Kayla Goncalves and Tristan Comeil. Midfielders Bridget Mutipula, Lacey Kindel, and Torah Betteridge. And a load of forwards, featuring Nedya Sawan, Chloe Taylor, Seina Kashima, Myla Ewasiuk, and Daniela Feria-Estrada. They sat in a low block for most of the match.
The Spirit saw their first true shot on goal in the 8th minute. When a ball got loose near the top of the box, Chloe Ricketts raced to the challenge and fired a shot immediately. A Rise Academy defender jumped in front of the keeper to deflect the ball out for a corner kick. Trinity Rodman outpaced her defender on a free ball two minutes later, but her half-volley attempt skied over the goal into the stands.
The Spirit had another chance in the 25th minute when they mounted a successful attack that broke down the backline. Paige Metayer sent a beautiful through ball that saw Trinity Rodman best her defender. After penetrating the final third, she sent a cross in front of goal that just missed Chloe Ricketts and went out of bounds.
While trying to set up a play in the 31st minute, the Spirit found themselves breaking the deadlock. Tara McKeown was scanning the pitch to find open space, but received no pressure from the defense. With acres of space, she took a chance and fired a long-range effort from outside the box. What initially looked like a Hail Mary ended up beating goalkeeper Jessica Wulf.
Heather Stainbrook scored the second goal of the match from a high-quality header. When a cross came in from the left flank, an unmarked Stainbrook squared her boots and headed the ball to the keeper’s near side. Trinity Rodman followed up with a goal of her own just minutes later. Paige Metayer sent a cross in front of goal from the right flank that found Rodman waiting to poach. Trinity caught the volley with full force and fired the ball into the back of the net.
Bridget Mutipula was all over the pitch, defending and outmuscling her opponents for balls. She, along with Racquel Partovi, was defending like their lives depended on it throughout the second half.
“The experience has been really, really good,” Mutipula explained about her experience playing against the Spirit. “Getting to play against players that you basically look up to. It’s been a really good experience. It’s been amazing.” Mutipula also plays for Canada’s U-20 Women’s National Team.
Deb Abiodun scored in the 82nd minute and increased the Spirit’s lead to four. Up 4-0, Deb took a shot from about 20 yards out, which initially looked wide. On its path into the box, the ball took a deflection off a defender and flew past Wulf into the back of the net.
“[On the seriousness of the match] Every game we’re going into it like it’s the most important game, and it’s always just making us better for the next competition,” said Tara McKeown.
“[The team’s adjustment to the low block] His instructions were to notice the space out wide, so adjusting the player’s positions,” Chloe Ricketts began. “Instead of me at the 10 and staying on the left, he put me on the backline and had other players go out wide just to open up space.”
Battling against a low block is never easy. For the Rise Academy, the changes made in the second half heavily impacted the Spirit and limited them to just a single goal. “Instead of the 4s dealing with the fullbacks, we let the fullbacks push up a little bit, because they had very high wingbacks,” said Rise Academy’s Daniela Feria-Estrada. “We also had the 10s and the 9s step on the center backs tighter, but our main goal was to block off the passes through the center because those become the most dangerous.”
After tonight, the Washington Spirit have scored 11 goals against Concacaf W Champions Cup opponents and sit atop Group B in the standings.
The Spirit will enjoy their win this week and prepare to host Seattle Reign FC on Sunday, Sept. 7, at 4:00 PM.
-Jon Jones
Photo: Courtesy of the Spirit
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