April 17, 2022 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Washington Spirit News Release
Harrison, NJ – Gotham set the tone early Sunday afternoon with two quick shots on goal. In the third minute of action, Aubrey Kingsbury made a great diving save to her left off a shot out in front before another shot in the fourth minute by Nahomi Kawasumi dribbled past a defender and into the bottom left corner of the net to give NJ/NY a 1-0 lead.
The early concession served as a wake-up call for both the Spirit defense and attack as the next 20 minutes of play saw four solid scoring chances from the defending champions. In the 24th minute, Washington knotted the score when Ashley Sanchez sent a direct free kick past Gotham goaltender Ashlyn Harris. It was the second goal of this year’s Challenge Cup for the Spirit’s leader in total shots and shots on target.
After a scary collision in the 28th minute between Kelley O’Hara and Imani Dorsey caused a lengthy injury stoppage and resulted in a yellow card for Dorsey, Gotham’s Margaret Purce fired off a shot from the left side of the box that connected with the crossbar and bounced back into play. Six minutes later, Trinity Rodman buried a lob pass from O’Hara in the bottom right corner to give the Spirit its first lead over Gotham this year.
The first half closed after a few more key plays from the Spirit on both ends of the field. In the 42nd minute, Rodman played a ball between her defender’s legs before setting up a scoring chance with a great centering pass that was cleared by the Gotham defense. A minute later, Ashley Hatch found herself on a breakaway into the box and fired a shot just above the crossbar. In stoppage time before halftime, the Gotham attacking third looked to have its best scoring chance since the opening minutes but Sam Staab blocked a shot out front to send everyone into the locker room.
Washington almost added to its lead early in the second half as Rodman found O’Hara on a free kick for a great chance…