This week, the Washington Spirit (13-4-6) return to Audi Field to face off against Boston Legacy FC (6-5-12). A key challenge for the Spirit will be executing a winning game strategy against an expansion side that has yet to define its identity.

During Saturday’s pregame press conference, head coach Adrián González noted that the Legacy have arguably undergone the most changes this season in terms of playing style and lineups. He added that Boston’s frequent rotations can cause problems for teams that hyper-focus on man-to-man defense, “We want to prioritize spaces instead of just following players, because if not, we [will] get frustrated and they can disorganize you.”

What to Expect

The Barking Swans (IYKYK, if you don’t know, here’s a fun video about how the Legacy got their nickname) may be unpredictable in their tactics, but they are consistent in having a bite that matches their bark. Boston leads the league in penalties conceded (8), fouls per match (12.4), yellow cards (37), and red cards (3). If there is one thing we can predict from this match, it will be a fight (probably started by Bianca St-Georges).

Adrián González commented, “They are very aggressive, jumping, following, sometimes man v. man. So we will need to know how to skip that pressure and try to provoke them a little bit and create chances from those situations.” The Spirit will need to manage their emotions. Hopefully Provocateurs-in-Chief Hal Hershfelt and Trinity Rodman can find ways to frustrate their opponents and take advantage of free kick opportunities.

Washington Spirit

How They Got Here

Following a record first (albeit close) victory at Providence Park against the Portland Thorns, the Spirit are in good spirits. Currently, Washington sits in second place. Last week’s three points has put them in striking distance of Gotham FC at the top of the table and pulling ahead of the rest of the pack as the fight for a spot in the playoffs gets narrower and narrower.

We got to speak with new addition, midfielder Monique Ngock during the MD-1 press conference.“I think we just speak the same language and that’s football,” she said, when reflecting on building connections with her new teammates. “When we have the ball, we just understand, it’s just fluent when you are on the field.”

That connection was evident in the team buildup to Mélissa Bethi’s game winning goal last week. Rosemonde Kouassi won the ball in the midfield, made a quick pass to Paige Metayer who found Trinity Rodman running up the right wing, Rodman was able to beat the defender and deliver the ball right on a platter for Bethi.

The Spirit need to continue finding creative ways to connect, move the ball, and take advantage of scoring opportunities. DJ, put this song on repeat.

Key Difference Makers

Against an unpredictable opponent like the Legacy, the Spirit will need to rely heavily on creative off-ball movement. When it comes to creativity, it’s hard not to think of Trinity Rodman. With 10 goals and 6 assists this season, Rodman is at the peak of her powers.

Last week against the Thorns, Rodman struggled to break through their defense on her preferred left side, when she switched to the right, the game opened up and she was able to provide an assist. Rotating Rodman and the other wingers more fluidly may be the key to unlocking more scoring opportunities for the Spirit.

In addition to Rodman, keen Spirit fans will note that Paige Metayer has been a force to be reckoned with and a key difference maker for the Spirit this season. While she has only started seven of 23 matches this year, Metayer’s speed and ability to provide overlapping options on the right wing has made her an absolute headache for opponents and asset for the Spirit.

Boston Legacy

How They Got Here

The Legacy are, for lack of a better word, weird. A more generous read might be that they are inconsistent, but that doesn’t fully capture their aura. The 14th-place expansion side has struggled to execute a game plan that is repeatable. One might expect that it’s normal for expansion teams to have losing inaugural seasons, what is confusing watching the Legacy is that instead of watching incremental progress throughout the season, they seem to be hot and cold in a completely unpredictable pattern.

Maybe that is head coach Filipa Patão’s evil genius plan: never let them know your next move. After all, the Legacy have managed to beat the KC Current, Orlando Pride, Denver Summit this season, and even rising star Utah Royals as recently as last week. In the same breath, they’ve lost 5-2 to Angel City and 4-1 against Louisville in the last month.

Key Difference Makers

What is consistent about Boston is their ability to put the ball in the net. Win or lose, they have managed to score in every game they have played since May 30th. In 23 games this season, they have only been denied five times. Leading the squad with eight goals, forward Aïssata Traoré is responsible for a lot of Boston’s attacking success and sauce. Last week, she scored against Utah in the first 10 minutes of play.

The Legacy are also ranked second in the league for accurate long balls per match (23.1). Although they haven’t found a team identity in their style of play, midfielder Annie Karich leads the team in accurate passes (45.6 per 90), and she is often the conductor when Boston is able to play a possession-based game. Defender Jorelyn Carabalí is the Legacy’s leader in accurate long balls per match (4.1).

Previously: Spirit Win! 2-1

The Spirit last met Boston on July 19th in Rhode Island. Tara Rudd scored in the 25th minute with an assist from Leicy Santos. Only moments later, Trinity Rodman had a goal assisted by Gift Monday (31′). While the Spirit maintained 59% of possession, they lost some momentum in the second half and allowed a goal from Sammy Smith in the 88th minute (assisted by Emerson Elgin). Boston managed to take 12 shots (3 on target, 1.20 xG) compared to the Spirit’s 7 (3 SoT, 1.34xG) and had more touches in the box (21) than the Spirit (11). Keep in mind, the Spirit were coming off of a difficult match against Gotham at midweek (remember the smoggy 170+ AQI). Despite the tired legs and tight margins, the Spirit managed a victory!

Availability Reports

Washington Spirit:

OUT: Deborah Abiodun (SEI), Aubrey Kingsbury (Maternity Leave), Casey Krueger (Maternity Leave), Leicy Santos (Foot), Andi Sullivan (Suspension), Kate Wiesner (Ankle – D45)

Boston Legacy:

Location: Audi Field, Washington D.C.
Kickoff time: 1:00 PM ET
Available TV: ESPN