After sitting out much of the season with an injury, Washington Spirit rookie Makenna Morris showed up big for the team in her first professional start. She was involved in each of the three goals Washington scored in their 3-0 victory over Bay FC by scoring, assisting, and winning a penalty kick.

The match, which was also head coach Jonatan Giráldez’s first on the touchline, gave the Spirit a lot to be happy about. It was the team’s third shutout and biggest goal differential of the season and serves as a strong capstone to the first half of the season, as the league goes on international break. It also likely restored some confidence after last week’s loss at home.

But let’s be honest, we’re here to talk about the goals.

Goal number one: This one came early, after Trinity Rodman won a free kick near Bay’s goal area. Croix Bethune placed the kick well, but Ouleye Sarr’s header was off target. The ball bounced among Spirit players for a few seconds, until Rodman took a shot that was cleared off the goal line. Seeing an opening, Morris rushed forward to collect the rebound and hit it easily into the net for her first professional goal.

Goal number two: As she dribbled toward the goal in the 16th minute, some (admittedly light) contact brought Morris down in the box. The referee immediately awarded a penalty, although the kick was delayed by VAR review. Ultimately, Rodman stepped up to the spot and struck the ball firmly into the left corner of the net.

The Spirit lost some of their control of the match after that, and Bay FC got their first shot in the 26th minute. They would ultimately put up 19 shots and five on target to Washington’s 16 and five, often forcing defenders into difficult footraces with Racheal Kundananji and putting dangerous-looking crosses into the box. Fortunately, the Spirit’s defense in the goal area was just strong enough to hold the Bay back and keep a clean sheet.

Goal number three: In the 57th minute, Morris got the ball in the Spirit’s half and drove towards goal. She made a short pass ahead to Sarr just outside the box, putting her in a one-versus-one with a Bay defender. Sarr deftly played the ball behind the defender to give herself a better angle on the goal and struck the ball perfectly with the side of her foot to put it in the far corner.

With the end of this match, Washington enter a long break in the NWSL’s schedule. Five players will travel to Paris for the 2024 Olympics, either on their country’s rosters or as alternates. The remainder will get some much-needed rest before playing in a friendly series between the NWSL and Liga MX Femenil later this month.

Three takeaways 

• Kingsbury’s clean sheet. Although it was a team effort, much of the credit for the clean sheet goes to Aubrey Kingsbury, who may have felt she had something to prove after allowing a goal last week. She made five saves last night and often came off of her goal line to intercept an on-running Bay attacker before they could shoot.
• Lingering concerns. The Spirit still have a few areas of improvement on that were evident in this match. Errors in the back during build-up play created a couple of scoring opportunities, the team looks far less dangerous on the attack after making substitutions, and the midfield is not getting enough time on the ball for Bethune’s brilliance to shine. Hopefully, the impending break and summer series should give Giráldez the perfect opportunity to work out some of those problems with his new team.
• Race for the shield. Winning in San Jose keeps Washington in third place in the standings (34 points), just one point behind Kansas City Current (35 points), who they’ll play in their next regular season match in August. As of last night, Orlando Pride has pulled ahead, but at 38 points, they’re still in reach.

Box Score

NWSL Regular Season –  Game 16

Bay FC 0

Washington Spirit 3 (Morris 4′, Rodman 18′(Pen), Sarr 57′)

Lineups

Bay FC (433): Katelyn Rowland; Savy King, Emily Menges (C), Alyssa Malonson (Caprice Dydasco 67′), Kayla Sharples; Kiki Pickett, Deyna Castellanos (Tess Boade), Dorian Bailey; Racheal Kundananji, Asisat Oshoala (Princess 72′), Rachel Hill

Washington (4231): Aubrey Kingsbury (C); Casey Krueger, Annaïg Butel, Tara McKeown, Gabby Carle; Croix Bethune (Heather Stainbrook 78′), Andi Sullivan (Paige Metayer 60′), Hal Hershfelt; Trinity Rodman (Brittany Ratcliffe 89′), Makenna Morris (Courtney Brown 60′), Ouleye Sarr (Ashley Hatch 60′)

Misconduct Summary

Bay FC: Rowland 3′, Sharples 81′

Washington Spirit: Carle 83′

Image courtesy of the Washington Spirit