Spirit blow past Orlando in 3-0 road victory
Owen Krucoff
Washingtonspirit.com
Boyds, Md., (10/5/2019) – The Washington Spirit continued their late-season momentum Saturday with a 3-0 victory at the Orlando Pride. Forwards Ashley Hatch, Crystal Thomas and Tiffany McCarty provided the goals as the Spirit clinched the season series against the Pride. The win extended the Spirit’s winning streak to three games.
The Spirit got off to a fast start thanks to an incredible goal by Hatch. After taking the ball from inside Washington’s own half all the way to the edge of the box, Hatch let loose a screaming, left-footed shot that bent around the Pride keeper and went in at the far post.
Left foot? No problem for Ashley Hatch!#ORLvWAS | #CatchTheSpirit pic.twitter.com/AwruNFlECC
— Washington Spirit (@WashSpirit) October 5, 2019
The goal continued a strong run of form against the Pride for the Spirit’s leading scorer. The goal was Hatch’s seventh of the year and her second in as many games against Orlando. She scored the memorable game-winner against the Pride in front of 19,871 at Audi Field on Aug. 24.
Thomas extended the lead in the 62nd minute with her third goal of the season. Like Hatch, it was her second strike against the Pride after she first scored in the Audi Field match. After pouncing on a loose ball, Thomas slid a shot between goalkeeper Lainey Burdett’s legs for the goal.
Crystal Thomas goes five hole!#ORLvWAS | #CatchTheSpirit pic.twitter.com/vY72aUusga
— Washington Spirit (@WashSpirit) October 5, 2019
With the Spirit missing seven players due to international callups, goalkeeper Shae Yanez, forward Tiffany McCarty and defender Tegan McGrady all made landmark appearances off the bench on Saturday.
Yanez made her NWSL debut when she replaced Aubrey Bledsoe in the 79th minute, adding her name to the list of talented rookies who have taken the field for Washington this year. She made her first career save off a header from Abby Elinsky.
First NWSL save for Shae Yanez!#ORLvWAS | #CatchTheSpirit pic.twitter.com/XZdHw8udyZ
— Washington Spirit (@WashSpirit) October 5, 2019
McCarty made her first appearance of the season when she came on in the 52nd minute, and she made her presence felt when she put one in the back of the net late in the game to make it 3-0. McCarty scored the first-ever goal for the Washington Spirit back in 2013, and she now owns the most recent goal in club history as well.
The chip from McCarty! #ORLvWAS | #CatchTheSpirit pic.twitter.com/tmYrt3lq9g
— Washington Spirit (@WashSpirit) October 5, 2019
McGrady had gone four months without seeing the field, but she returned to action Saturday as a substitute for her former college teammate, midfielder Jordan DiBiasi. McGrady gained possession twice and made 13 passes in 18 minutes of action.
With just one loss in the past seven games, the Spirit are riding a wave heading into the season finale next Saturday in Portland. Washington and Portland Thorns FC will kick off at 10:30 p.m. to finish off the year at Providence Park.
-NWSL Match Report-
Match: Orlando Pride vs Washington Spirit
Date: October 5, 2019
Venue: Exploria Stadium
Kickoff: 5:00 p.m. ET
Attendance: 6,054
Weather: Mostly sunny, low 80s
Scoring Summary:
| Goals | 1 | 2 | F |
| Orlando | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Washington | 1 | 2 | 3 |
WAS – Hatch 5’
WAS – Thomas 62’
WAS – McCarty 85’
Lineups:
ORL (4-3-3): 18-Lainey Burdett; 16-Carson Pickett; 17-Dani Weatherholt; 27-Morgan Reid; 12-Kristen Edmonds (c); 23-Marisa Viggiano; 25-Joanna Boyles (67’ 20-Abby Elinsky); 22-Bridget Callahan; 15-Rachel Hill; 8-Danica Evans (72’ 9-Camila); 7-Claire Emslie (75’ 2-Sydney Leroux)
Unused Substitutes: 28-Haley Kopmayer; 19-Erin Greening; 21-Julie King; 26-Caitlin Farrell
WAS (4-4-2): 1-Aubrey Bledsoe (79’ 30-Shae Yanez); 14-Paige Nielsen; 3-Sam Staab; 23-Tori Huster (c); 19-Dorian Bailey; 31-Crystal Thomas; 13-Bayley Feist; 4-Jordan DiBiasi (72’ 9-Tegan McGrady); 8-Meggie Dougherty Howard; 33-Ashley Hatch; 2-Arielle Ship (52’ 16-Tiffany McCarty)
Unused Substitutes: 18-McKenzie Berryhill; 17-Cali Farquharson; 5-Megan Crosson
Stats Summary: ORL / WAS
Shots: 8 / 12
Shots on Target: 3 / 7
Saves: 4 / 3
Blocked Shots: 3 / 1
Fouls: 11 / 10
Offside: 3 / 4
Misconduct Summary:
WAS – Bayley Feist 1’ – Yellow Card
ORL – Claire Emslie 71’ – Yellow Card
Officials:
Referee: Tori Penso
Assistant Referee 1: Maggie Short
Assistant Referee 2: Ashlee Varnson
Fourth Official: Anya Voigt
The post Spirit blow past Orlando in 3-0 road victory appeared first on Washington Spirit.