May 2, 2022 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Washington Spirit News Release
Washington, D.C. – The Washington Spirit kicked off its 2022 regular season in front of over 10,000 fans with a 2-1 victory over OL Reign. Both Ashleys scored to keep the Spirit undefeated in matches it has taken the field for dating back to early August 2021, almost nine months ago.
Sunday’s match started with a scare from the Reign as Rose Lavelle lined up for a penalty kick in the ninth minute after a foul committed by Camryn Biegalski in the box. Lavelle’s shot to the lower left-hand corner was saved by a diving Aubrey Kingsbury to keep the score knotted at zero.
Washington flipped the script just five minutes later when Anna Heilferty left a drop pass at the top of the box for a crossing Ashley Sanchez who put a shot past Reign goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce for the early lead. Sanchez notably scored the game-winning goal against the Reign during last season’s playoff match in Tacoma.
The Reign looked to put together a few good scoring chances over the next eight minutes of action but the Spirit defense continued to come up big. A couple defensive stops by Morgan Goff, who was making her first career start, and a free kick tipped over the net by Aubrey Kingsbury in the 23rd minute protected the Washington lead. Anna Heilferty kept up where she left off in the attacking third with another great pass, this time a centering ball to Trinity Rodman that set Sanchez up with another great attempt from the top of the box.
In the 32nd and 33rd minutes, respectively, both Rodman and Sanchez put great shots on goal and forced Tullis-Joyce to make some plays. On a corner kick in the 41st minute, Sam Staab got her leg up for an acrobatic one-timer that nearly fell into the net before Tullis-Joyce was able to tip it high. Just before the end of the opening half of action, Rodman showed off her acceleration, beating her defender to a through ball from Julia Roddar and putting a shot on…