An evenly matched game in Orlando ended in the most logical way possible, with the Spirit taking the lead late in the 77th minute via an Ashley Hatch header and conceding the equalizer via Alex Morgan shortly after in the 84th minute with the Spirit and Coach Richie Burke both feeling like it was 2 points lost rather than one point earned.
With a completely healthy and available roster, Burke had a lot of decisions to make with his starting XI. After flirting with a 3 in the back system for much of preseason, Burke reverted to the tried and true 4 man backline as he welcomed back the iron woman center back pairing of Sam Staab and Paige Nielsen.
In addition to the conventional formation, Saori Takarada featured up front for the first time in a Washington Spirit uniform. Burke said Takarada was recruited to play the position she played tonight but was playing center back at the request of the Japanese federation who want her to play that position in the Olympics in the summer. Emily Sonnett partnered in the midfield with Andi Sullivan, allowing Sullivan to play the more advanced role that she filled in the Challenge Cup. Finally, Ashley Hatch and Kumi Yokoyama were left out of the starting lineup, likely done with defensively reinforcing the midfield to counteract a dangerous Orlando attack.
Like every game in the Challenge Cup, the Spirit came out a bit flat with the only attacking threats coming from the one woman battering ram named Trinity Rodman. Rodman, making her first official league start, gave Orlando’s backline fits in the first 20 minutes despite being generally offensively isolated by the formation and personnel.
Takarada looked much more comfortable in the attack than she had in her first two defensive appearances in the Spirit jersey, providing to be very technical and tidy with the ball dribbling in and around the 18 yard box. She will be a very valuable player as the team continues to coalesce around an identity this season.
The second half was a different story for the Spirit, swapping Ashley Hatch for Takarada and moving Rodman out to the wing. Ashley Sanchez was immediately more dangerous, slicing though the box and smacking a dangerous shot as Ashlyn Harris. The quality of the possession also improved markedly, providing a blue print for how the Spirit have to come out of the gates to start games in order to become a more dangerous side. The breakthrough happened in the 77th minute, as Ashley Sanchez once again started an attacking move, pushing the ball out the right wing where Tori Huster sent in a high cross towards a leaping Hatch, who buried the ball in the back of the net with authority. That was Hatch’s first goal since June 28th 2020 against the Chicago Red Stars in the 2020 Challenge Cup, and she celebrated like she meant it.
Unfortunately, it wouldn’t last. The times where the Pride looked dangerous, the chances were coming on long through balls that resulted in footraces between the Spirit backline and the very dangerous Alex Morgan and Sydney Leroux. The Spirit narrowly avoided conceding on a run on goal by Leroux, only to be bailed out by Aubrey Bledsoe coming quickly off her line. They weren’t as lucky in the 84th minute as Alex Morgan sprinted past Paige Nielsen and chipped Bledsoe to even the score. Both teams searched for a winning goal, but one could not be found and the points were split, fairly.
The Spirit will be back in action on the road against Racing Louisville FC on 5/21 at 7:30.