The Washington Spirit thrashed the Houston Dash 4-0 in front of 12,715 fans for Hispanic Heritage Night. Gift Monday earned a hat-trick in the first half, and Trinity Rodman led the squad with two assists. With today’s performance, Gift Monday now leads the club in goals scored with eight.
Spirit head coach Adrián González started the following: Aubrey Kingsbury (c), Tara McKeown, Gabby Carle, Esme Morgan, Kysha Sylla, Croix Bethune, Leicy Santos, Hal Hershfelt, Trinity Rodman, Rose Kouassi, Gift Monday.
A chance came early in the 11th minute, but the finishing wasn’t there. Rosemonde Kouassi was flying down the left flank and had a step on her defender. With Gift Monday running parallel in the center and another down the right side in Trinity Rodman, she waited too long to cross the ball. By the time she reached the end line, the ball ricocheted out of bounds.
Just minutes later, the same scenario happened with Trinity keeping possession and Gift Monday in the center. After holding up play, Rodman sent a ball into space ahead of Monday. There was enough space in front to tempt goalkeeper Abby Smith to track the ball. Monday beat her to the punch, dribbled around her, and slipped the ball in at a tight angle to take the lead.
In the 21st minute, Croix Bethune found space on that right side, similar to Rodman. After holding up play, she sent in a lofty cross to the far post that found Gift Monday. Monday’s header was saved by the keeper, but the ball fell back to her, and she redeemed herself with the quick tap-in.
Just a few minutes after the hydration break was over, Rodman and Monday combined for another tap-in goal to complete her hat-trick. The Spirit continued to find space down that right side, and Rodman wouldn’t let up. After controlling the ball in the defensive third, she sent a low cross into the middle of the box that found the foot of Monday for the one-time, tap-in goal.
The Houston Dash saw a good opportunity on goal in the 68th minute from midfielder Delanie Sheehan. A redirection off a free kick from Sheehan was enough to get goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury off her line, but the Spirit captain made the easy save.
Croix Bethune put the Dash defense on notice after dribbling around two defenders and penetrating the 18-yard box. She took one step too many, and Smith left her line to recover the ball.
In the 82nd minute, Sofia Cantore scored the Spirit’s fourth goal of the match with enough finesse to get a rise out of Audi Field. Narumi Miura raced down the touch line and passed the ball across the face of goal to Cantore. The Italian then flicked the ball behind her and past the keeper to cause an eruption from the crowd.
Rodman was an absolute menace down the right side, with two assists for good measure. Performances like this are what will push them going forward. “I think finding the times to be patient and the times to go right away, and also connecting with the people around me,” Trinity began. “Connecting with Gabby, connecting with Leicy, and finding ways to get the ball back from them in a deeper position and closer to goal, I think, was good for me today.”
“It feels great,” said Croix Bethune after officially clinching a playoff berth. She was all over the pitch today and seemed quite comfortable. “They tend to be very narrow and compact in the middle, so that’s what allowed us to drop down and bring them out and get the ball to either swing in or keep going wide.”
The Washington Spirit will enjoy their win today before creating their game plan for Wednesday’s match against Gotham FC in the Concacaf W Champions Cup.
-Jon Jones
Photo: Eyoel Fassil