August 11, 2022 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Washington Spirit News Release
Leesburg, VA – The Washington Spirit finished with a 2-1 loss against Portland Thorns FC in the two sides’ second meeting of the NWSL season.
After an hour-long weather delay, the Washington Spirit and Portland Thorns FC were finally able to kick off at a wet Segra Field. Looking to break its streak of draws, the Spirit wasted no time establishing a high press against the Thorns right out of the gate. With neither team generating many opportunities early on, Thorns FC would be the first to fire a shot on target. In the 14th minute, Christine Sinclair fired a shot low but it was met with a casual diving save to the left-hand side of Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury.
In the 21st minute, Trinity Rodman delivered in a tantalizing cross to the back post, finding Ashley Hatch who nodded a header toward goal but wasn’t able to find the back of the net. Thorns FC would fire back in the 27th minute. With the ball bouncing around in the box it would eventually find its way to Marissa Everett. Sam Staab made a crucial block on the shot from six yards out to keep the game scoreless.
Kingsbury was called upon once again in the 33rd minute. Off a low cross inside the box, Everett took a first time opportunity from six yards out which was met evenly at the hands of Kingsbury. Instantly starting an attack, the Spirit created a strong chance in the same minute. From 18 yards out, Andi Sullivan fired a shot to the lower left corner of the goal, calling on Bixby to make a fully-stretched diving save.
It was once again the goalkeepers in action in the 39th minute when Kingsbury made a critical one-on-one save, this time to her left-hand side off of a Yazmeen Ryan shot. One minute later, the Spirit found itself on the counter attack. Hatch slipped a ball across to Ashley Sanchez, who attempted to flick it over Bixby, resulting in a forced save.
The second half would lend itself to few goal scoring chances, the first of which would come in the 65th minute when Rodman placed a shot inches wide of the bottom left corner. Upon being substituted into the game for Portland, Janine Beckie placed a dangerous cross into the six-yard box, calling on Kingsbury to make a diving save in the box to collect the cross.
In the 70th minute, Hatch found herself with another opportunity, this one a first-time header off a Camryn Biegalski cross from the left-hand side of the pitch. Hatch’s header would…