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The Washington Spirit beat Bay FC 1-0 at Audi Field on Sunday afternoon, ending a four-game winless streak and holding second place in the National Women's Soccer League with a month of the regular season left.
A crowd of 16,817 watched the noon kickoff in mid-80s heat, according to the team.3
The only goal came in first-half stoppage time. Sofia Cantore played Trinity Rodman through on the left, and Rodman beat her defender into the box and hit the crossbar. Paige Metayer followed the rebound and forced it over the line.
Bay FC had the better of the chances for long stretches and outshot Washington 19-16, with each side putting four on target. Goalkeeper Sandy MacIver made four saves, including a diving stop inside the six-yard box in the 38th minute and a tip onto the crossbar in the 67th. Karlie Lema hit the post for Bay FC in the 40th.
Washington lost two starters to injury. Forward Ashley Hatch went down near the Bay FC box before halftime and was replaced by Mélissa Bethi, who made her NWSL debut. Defender Kate Wiesner came off in the 51st minute for Tamara Bolt. Midfielder Monique Ngock also made her league debut, on for Andi Sullivan in the 68th.
Rodman closed the game out, winning a tackle at the edge of her own box in the 87th minute and repeatedly drawing fouls and running down the clock through seven minutes of stoppage time.
Metayer and Gabrielle Carle were booked for Washington, Maddie Moreau for Bay FC.
The Spirit next travel to Portland to face the Thorns at 4 p.m. Sept. 6, their last West Coast trip of the regular season. The match airs on CBS.
Ryan Belmore is an Alexandria resident and the founder and publisher of The Alexandria Brief. Send tips, feedback, and story ideas to ryan@alexandriabrief.com.
