After a tough loss to Kansas City, Washington Spirit get another chance to win at home tonight against Bay FC. The Spirit bested the expansion side in the playoffs last year, but can they power through injuries to defeat a surging Bay now?
Bay FC (1-1-0) have had a turbulent first year, including the departures of Savy King and Deyna Castellanos and the recent launch of an investigation into head coach Albertin Montoya, but on-the-field, things are looking up. They’re undefeated in their first two matches and coming off a clean sheet victory at home last weekend. Like the Spirit, Bay are an adaptable team who like to roll out different formations for different opponents and rely on system rather than a few stars for their success.
After a second-place finish last year, the Washington Spirit (1-0-1) have had a difficult start to this year. They improved their performance last week, both completing more passes and maintaining control of the ball, but have consistently struggled to progress into the attack. Much this can be explained by the high number of injuries, forcing the team to play short-handed and with several players out of position. That situation is slowly improving, with players like Courtney Brown, Kysha Sylla, and Heather Stainbrook finally available tonight, but the Spirit are still far from at full strength.
Spirit forward Makenna Morris said the team plans to build off last week’s performance, especially defensively, and “do what we can to protect our home field.”
One fun match-up in this game is the potential one between sisters Tess and Meg Boade. Older sister Tess joined Bay FC for their first season last year, scoring three goals and making two assists. She’s also played in both of their matches so far this year. Younger sister Meg was signed by Washington this year as a short-term injury replacement and made her first professional appearance late in their match against Houston. She’s also been called up to the U.S. Women’s National Team Under-23 squad this month.
Key Player: Trinity Rodman
Returning from a persistent back injury, Trinity Rodman saw significant minutes in the second half last week’s match against the Current. As always, she was a driving force in the Spirit’s attack, driving forward with the ball and giving opposing defenders something to worry about from her first minute on the pitch. Getting Rodman in early and connecting with her fellow forwards will be key to Washington’s attack tonight.
Watch Out For: Caprice Dydasco
Fullback Caprice Dydasco is a capable player on both sides of the ball, putting up strong defensive numbers while also creating chances on goal for her teammates.
Challenges: The Spirit are strong defensively, but need more creativity and dynamism to penetrate into the attacking third and score.
Previously: Last year, Washington beat Bay FC all three times they played, most recently with a stoppage time game-winner in the quarterfinals.
Bay FC Availability:
Out: Emmie Allen (upper leg), Jordan Brewster (lower leg), Princess (excused absence)
Questionable: None
Washington Spirit Availability:
Out: Croix Bethune (hip), Emma Gaines-Ramos (SEI – knee), Hal Hershfelt (ankle), Lyza Jessee (SEI – wrist), Rosemonde Kouassi (knee), Paige Metayer (D45 – knee), Ouleye Sarr (SEI – back), Andi Sullivan (SEI – knee), Kate Wiesner (hip)
Questionable: None
Location: Audi Field, Washington, DC
Kickoff time: 8 p.m. ET
Referee: Natalie Simon
Available streaming: Prime Video
Lots of empty seats in Buzzards Point right now based on broadcast.
That was too close. McKeon with a header in our box and it falls to the feet of a Bay FC attacker with a wide open shot on goal that she thankfully puts wide.
Stands look to have filled out nicely.
Remember that Spirit called for fans to black out the field. From a distance West Stands look like they’re pretty empty because one sees only light colored shirts. Up close most of those “empty” seats are filled with fans wearing black.
Bay FC with a low block that the Spirit haven’t quite figured out yet.
Actually more of a mid block that morphs into a low block as the Spirit advance up the field.
Hatch puts a header wide off a free kick. She looked to have the keeper beat.
Trinity Rodman with a shot that takes a nasty deflection that the keeper manages to put off the bar and then a great stop on a rebound shot by Morris.
Spirit keeping Bay FC penned in their own half for the most part so far.
Goal! Hatch with a header that beats the keeper. That felt like it was coming. Great cross from Santos.
Ashley Hatch with a 2nd for a brace with another header this time off a free kick.
Bay FC now with some sustained possession in the Spirit half.
Spirit with a quick counter but Rodman’s cross is knocked down and controlled by the goalie.
It’s 2-0 at half to the Spirit.
Bay FC with a double change before 2nd half kick off bringing in some speed.
Bay FC with some early pressure and get a free kick in a good spot unfortunately.
Santos picks up a yellow…my guess is for delaying the restart after Morris is called for a foul.
And it comes to nothing as Kingsbury comes out to claim the free kick.
Now Ashley Hatch picks up a yellow for throwing the ball away after Rodman is called for a foul.
Boade goes down in the box but the ref waves her up.
Bay FC giving Spirit fits so far in the 2nd half and the Spirit are unable to get possession.
Huff with a long range cannon that skips past Kingsbury.
Oh it’s under review for a foul off the ball in the build up. And the goal is called back for Kudenachi running into Karl and taking her out.
I did think it was a foul on Carle, and someone correct me if I’m wrong, but I thought plays in the middle of the field only rise to the standard of VAR review if a card is involved (wrong color, card given that shouldn’t have been, no card given that should have been).
It’s a foul in the attacking phase of play leading to a goal. In MLS that’s VAR review, but I don’t know about NWSL.
Makes sense. It’s been a couple of years since I looked at the actual rules, so I’m fully prepared to believe I’d either misremembered or not kept up with a change.
Kudenachi taking Karl out opened the space for Huff to run into before taking her shot.
Ratcliffe coming on for Rodman in the 64′.
Bay FC has definitely been more dominant in the 2nd half. The Spirit can’t seem to get their foot on the ball.
Carle is down again. Sorry for misspelling her name earlier. Looks like she might need to be subbed off due to injury.
Carle’s been cramping up off the ball since that foul; she’s gotta be done here.
Oshola is offsides there and another Bay FC goal is called back. It’s super close the cut of the grass shows it.
Santos is now being looked at after being fouled. She also looks to have cramped up.
11 mins of stoppage…injuries and VAR reviews…this is gonna feel like forever.
Morgan now picks up a yellow for kicking the ball away. All 3 yellows against the Spirit have been for delaying the restart by kicking/throwing the ball away.
Explain to me how Kudananji clearing out Ratcliffe from behind isn’t a foul there?
Spirit with a double change using their last windows and their last 2 subs. Santos and Narumi off.
Sylla for Narumi and Detrizio for Santos.
Kingsbury with a big save.
Hatch and Didasko clash heads challenging for a ball in the air and Hatch stays down.
Spirit are out of subs, but do have concussion sub if needed. Meg Boadie getting ready as a potential concussion sub….Hatch appears to be good to go and is back into the game.
Full time and the Wahsington Spirit use a commanding 1st half to win 2-0.
Hatch is quite the fox in the box. I thought her touch betrayed her outside of the box but inside that box she’s deadly. I’m surprised that the Bay had so much of the play in the second half. The Spirit need to get some bodies healthy.
With the two week international break, assuming that none of our nine call ups are injured, we should have four-five players come off the injury list, including Croix Bethune.