June 1, 2022 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Washington Spirit News Release
Leesburg, VA – The Washington Spirit was able to escape Wednesday night’s championship game rematch against Chicago with a point in a 1-1 draw. After allowing a goal in the opening ten minutes of play, Washington was able to net an equalizer in the final ten for its fourth consecutive tie.
The Red Stars came out of the gates hot with three scoring opportunities in the opening 11 minutes. In the third minute, Chicago possessed the ball deep in the Washington box before a Spirit defender was able to poke the ball away to goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury. Just seven minutes later, the Red Stars’ Sarah Griffith sent a cross from near the endline to Ella Stevens who buried a header into the back of the net for the early 1-0 lead. The next minute, Kingsbury had to make a diving save off a Rachel Hill shot to prevent Chicago from doubling its lead.
In the 19th minute, the Spirit appeared to have knotted the match at one on an Ashley Sanchez cross to Ashley Hatch but the play was ruled offside. The same minute, Trinity Rodman fired a shot on goal from the center of the box but it was saved by Chicago goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher. Three minutes later, Naeher made a diving stop of a cross from the right side of the box to end the Spirit attack.
Chicago threatened to score again in the 34th minute when Sarah Griffith had an open lane to the goal but Spirit defender Sam Staab was able to catch up and step in to block Griffith’s ensuing shot. In stoppage time before the half, both Sanchez and Rodman had attempts blocked near the edge of the box and the Spirit had another attempt bounce off the post.
The second half kicked off the same way the first half ended when Ashley Sanchez hit the crossbar with a shot from outside the box in the 46th minute. Three minutes later, Rodman charged into the box with the ball at a sharp angle and fired a shot high. In the 54th minute, Rodman again found herself on…