April 23, 2022 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Washington Spirit News Release
Cary, NC – Washington’s fourth tie of the 2022 Challenge Cup will give the side a chance at the wild card berth in the semifinals as the North Carolina Courage took home the East division crown. A loss from Portland Thorns FC tomorrow night in Los Angeles would give the Spirit the fourth seed in this year’s preseason tournament.
The Courage came out of the gates firing with a second-minute crossing shot from Kerolin Ferraz that bounced squarely off the crossbar. Two minutes later, North Carolina’s Taylor Smith had a breakaway chance before Amber Brooks slid in with a great tackle to end the threat.
The Spirit seemed to settle in on defense after the early test from North Carolina and was able to put together a few offensive opportunities of its own in the following ten minutes. A sixth-minute Emily Sonnett header went just wide of the net and Kelley O’Hara tried to head home a feed from Trinity Rodman in the seventh minute but was just high. Finally, Washington broke through when Ashley Hatch stole a ball out front and tucked a shot just outside the reach of Courage goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland and into the bottom left corner for the 1-0 lead in the 15th minute.
North Carolina was back on the attack after ceding the opening goal with Emily Sonnett having to make a sliding block of a shot from Debinha at the top of the box and reigning goalkeeper of the year Aubrey Kingsbury being forced to make key saves in the 26th and 31st minutes. Morgan Goff entered the game on the defending third in the 27th minute after Kelley O’Hara had to be subbed out due to injury.
Washington had another opportunity in the 37th minute when North Carolina’s Abby Erceg was issued a yellow card for a bad tackle on Trinity Rodman just outside the box near the endline. Ashley Sanchez sent the ensuing free kick across the box and Rodman nearly doubled the Spirit lead with a header but played the ball just…