With a lot to prove after a first week defeat, Washington Spirit faced expansion team Bay FC in their home opener last night and put out a result they can be proud of, winning 2-1 on the back of goals by rookies Hal Hershfelt and Croix Bethune.

Former Spirit Dorian Bailey got the scoring started in the 11th minute. Asisat Oshoala, who troubled Washington’s back line all night, drove the ball to the endline before slotting it back to Bailey in the center of the penalty area. Bailey made a quick shot that slipped through the Spirit defenders crowding the goal to put her team ahead.

The Spirit weathered more shots on goal by a high-pressing Bay FC over the next 10 minutes, before finding their footing and going back on the attack. In the 23rd minute, Trinity Rodman found defensive midfielder Hershfelt with a short pass at the top of the box. Hershfelt took a second to choose her shot and hit “a banger,” as Bethune later described it, over the head of Bay goalkeeper Lysianne Proulx for her first career goal and Washington’s equalizer.

Late in the first half, Casey Krueger and Hershfelt collided in the box, and Krueger went down holding her face. Spirit staff determined she did not have a concussion, but interim head coach Adrián González said they were concerned she could have fractured her cheekbone. She was subbed off, and Anna Heilferty came on to replace her, making her return after an ACL injury kept her off the field last season.

Tied coming into the second half, both teams had several dangerous chances. Important for the Spirit was their successful execution of a previously stated chance-creation strategy: getting the ball to Bethune. The rookie Number 10 showed her value last night, appearing out of nowhere to accept passes that had looked to be turnovers and taking 5 shots. She had two near misses late in the game, one caught by Proulx and the other going just wide.

Bethune finally found her goal in the 5th minute of stoppage time. In a final push for victory, Aubrey Kingsbury came up to the center line to take a free kick, making a mid-range pass to Tara McKeown. McKeown launched the ball to the top of the box, where Bethune received and settled it with a bobble and the assistance of Ashley Hatch. Bethune dribbled the ball a bit closer to goal, pulling Proulx out toward her, and slid the ball under the goalkeeper into the goal.

“Towards the end of the game, we were knocking on the door, knocking on the door, and we knew one was going to come eventually,” Bethune said, before praising her teammates’ efforts to create the goal.

Full time was called moments later, with the Spirit on top, 2-1, no doubt making the 11,734 fans in attendance at Audi Field glad they had braved the cold to see their team’s first win of the season.

Three takeaways 

• A major improvement. Washington looked like a totally different team from last week, connecting passes to build up in the attack and out-shooting their opponents 13-8. In their best moments, they demonstrated the style of play they are building toward with series of short passes to maneuver around their opponents.
• Rodman’s impact. While not all of their success can be laid at her feet, the impact of Trinity Rodman on the Spirit’s play was undeniable. As always, she was a driving force on their attack, looked to for her progressive dribbles and developing connection with her fellow attackers in dangerous areas. With her assist on Hershfelt’s goal, Rodman tied the club record of 11 assists and displayed an often overlooked aspect of her game.
• Still room to grow. Despite their vastly improved performance, last night’s Spirit was obviously a team still in the early stages of transition to a new play style. Trying to institute a high line, the defense let Bay attackers slip past them too frequently, and the team allowed a number of turnovers from misplaced passes.

Box Score

NWSL Regular Season –  Game 2

Washington Spirit 2 (Hershfelt 23′, Bethune 90’+5)

Bay FC 1 (Bailey 11′)

Lineups

Washington Spirit (4231): Aubrey Kingsbury (C); Casey Krueger (Anna Heilferty 43′), Annaïg Butel, Tara McKeown, Gabby Carle; Croix Bethune, Andi Sullivan, Hal Hershfelt; Trinity Rodman (Courtney Brown 86′), Ouleye Sarr (Brittany Ratcliffe 61′), Ashley Hatch

Bay FC (433): Lysianne Proulx; Saavy King, Jen Beattie, Emily Menges (C), Caprice Dydasco; Joelle Anderson, Dorian Bailey, Deyna Castellanos; Asisat Oshoala, Tess Boade, Scarlett Camberos (Rachel Hill 76′)

Misconduct Summary

Washington Spirit:  Rodman 59′

Bay FC:  Camberos 48′