April 13, 2024 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL)
Washington Spirit News Release
Houston, Texas – The Spirit defeated the Houston Dash, 3-1, after giving up a 1st-minute goal. Interim Head Coach Adrián González led the Spirit to victory in the first-ever all-Spanish head coaching matchup in NWSL history, and with a start in today’s match, Andi Sullivan earned her 100th career appearance with the Spirit. Sullivan joins Tori Huster (159), Aubrey Kingsbury (110) and Ashley Hatch (109) as the only players to reach that milestone with the club.
The Spirit began the match with shades of the team’s season opener in Seattle after surrendering a 1st-minute goal to Houston. Former Spirit player Natalie Jacobs netted the icebreaker, her first of the season.
In the 20th minute, Ashley Hatch launched into a great run and issued a rocket on goal, but it was stopped by Houston keeper Jane Campbell. Seconds later, Trinity Rodman tacked on another shot but was blocked by the Dash backline.
Much of the first half, the Spirit faced struggles building out of the back and was unable to piece together possession-based attacks in Houston’s third of the field. Rodman, using her first-class speed and athleticism, instigated many of the Spirit’s chances at goal but nothing came of her efforts.
Despite the momentum residing almost entirely with the Dash through the first 45 minutes, the Spirit finished with more touches in the opponent box (12), expected goals (.57) and six total shots.
In an inverse of the first half, the Spirit struck and struck quickly. Hal Hershfelt netted an equalizer in the 52nd minute.
Preceding the goal, the ball bounced from player to player – true chaos in the box – and Hershfelt executed on the open chance following an assist from Ouleye Sarr. The assist was Sarr’s second career NWSL assist, both coming in Houston.
Hershfelt became the first rookie in Spirit history to score two or more goals in the first four matches of the season. The only other player to score two or more goals in their first four games with the Spirit was Diana Matheson in the NWSL’s inaugural year of 2013.
Fast forward to the 82nd minute, and the top blew off the game. Brittany Ratcliffe, one of the Spirit’s free agent signees this offseason, sent a banger past Campbell for her first Spirit goal. Casey Krueger logged her first assist with the Spirit, while Ratcliffe’s goal was her seventh career regular season goal and second career regular season game-winning goal.
Two minutes…