For the amount of chances, clever passes, and ooh’s and ahh’s from the Spirit supporters, you’d be forgiven for thinking you were watching a score fest at Audi Field. But despite the end to end action for long stretches of the second half and domination by the Spirit in the first half, neither team could find the final ball or beat the talented keepers on both sides.
Both teams lined up without many surprising choices, aside from New Zealand International Abby Ercig not making the game day roster. RFKR favorite Anna Heilferty made way for the returning Olympians, with Paige Nielsen making way for Emily Sonnett by moving to right back. Nielsen, along with the rest of the Spirit, are Swiss Army knives in waiting and in order to accommodate the Spirit’s returning internationals, Nielsen versatility and talent kept her in the lineup.
The Spirit started on the front foot, with chances from Ashley Hatch and Trinity Rodman both narrowly missing the frame. The Spirit were forced into taking a number of shots from outside of the box and often found themselves mere inches from troubling Casey Murphy. The Courage were only vaguely threatening in the first half, with only 45% possession and no shots on goal, while the Spirit managed 6 shots and one on the frame.
The second half was a much different story. The Spirit, who Interim Coach Kris Ward said were perhaps a little too conservative in the first half, turned on the jets for much of the second half and the Courage joined them. Ashley Sanchez and Trinity Rodman had a pair of close calls, with the ball being saved on to the post for Sanchez and Rodman eliciting a diving save by Murphy. When all was said and done, a draw was a fair result even if the goalless element wasn’t.
Off the field, the Rose Room Collective and Spirit Squadron continued their public pressure campaign, encourage owner Steve Baldwin to sell the team. After launching a petition asking him to do so, the groups kept the pressure up with in stadium signage. The supporters were asked to put the sign down, and according to some member’s tweets, were told if they didn’t, they would removed from Audi Field. The team, via the Washington Post, did not comment. While the team and ownership remain silent, a number of public decisions continue to cause concern and consternation among a very vocal element of the Spirit fandom. It remains to be seen how long that silence can go on.
| -NWSL Match Report- Match: Washington Spirit vs. North Carolina Courage Date: August 29, 2021 Venue: Audi Field Kickoff: 5:00 p.m.. ET Weather: Partly cloudy, low-80s Lineups:WAS (4-3-3): 1-Aubrey Bledsoe; 6- Emily Sonnett; 3- Sam Staab; 5- Kelley O’Hara; 14- Paige Nielsen (16- Julia Roddar 60’); 12- Andi Sullivan; 19- Dorian Bailey; 23- Tori Huster; 2- Trinity Rodman; 10- Ashley Sanchez; 33- Ashley HatchUnused Substitutes:17-Kumi Yokoyama; 18-Devon Kerr; 26- Taylor Aylmer; 9- Teagan McGrady; 21- Anna Heilferty; 7- Saori Takarada; 27- Tara McKeown; 30- Cam Biegalski NC (4-3-3): 1- Casey Murphy; 3- Kaleigh Kurtz; 4- Carson Pickett; 7- Diane Caldwell; 11- Merritt Mathias (30- Kendall Fletcher 88’); 8- Denise O’Sullivan; 10- Debinha ( 34- Anghard James 89’); 21- Cari Roccaro; 25- Meredith Speck (3- Ryan Williams 79’); 9- Lynn Williams; 12- Amy Rodriguez (14- Jess McDonald 63’)Unused Substitutes: 2- Taylor Smith; 20- Lindsay Agnew; 27- Brittany Ratcliffe; 29- Rylee Baisden; 42- Sam Murphy Stats Summary: WAS / NC Shots: 21 / 12 Shots on Target: 4 / 5 Saves: 5 / 4 Blocked Shots: 5 / 3 Fouls: 9 / 10 Offside: 1 / 2 Misconduct Summary: NC – Lynn Williams 55’ – Yellow Card |