Playing in the postseason for the first time since 2016, the Washington Spirit was dealt the tough task of facing the two-time NWSL champion North Carolina Courage in the first round on Sunday.
The match – played at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. – was close throughout. The game was scoreless after 90 minutes, during which the goalies for both teams came up with big saves on multiple occasions.
Needing the half-hour of extra time to determine which club would advance, the game continued scoreless into the second half of the extra period still 0-0.
Then, in the 113th minute, Andi Sullivan fed Rookie of the Year candidate Trinity Rodman, who fired a shot from the right side of the box. The shot had enough power that North Carolina goalkeeper Casey Murphy couldn’t hold onto the ball, only deflecting the shot.
The rebound fell right into the path of the league’s Golden Boot winner Ashley Hatch, who slotted the ball into an empty net for the 1-0 advantage. The Spirit were able to see out the remainder of the match, sealing a spot in the semifinals.
The Golden Boot with perhaps the Golden Goal 👀#WASvNC | https://t.co/0LtSAUK1Jw | #NWSL21 pic.twitter.com/M8advNgK6y
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) November 8, 2021
Thanks to Hatch’s incredible run of form continuing into the postseason, the Spirit are now one of the four teams left in the NWSL postseason.
Up next, they’ll take on OL Reign in the semifinals on Sunday, November 14, traveling to Tacoma. The match will kick off at Cheney Stadium at 1 p.m. MT and can be seen on CBS Sports Network.
Former BYU star Ashley Hatch Leads the Way for Washington’s Title Hopes
