Spirit Draw Pride in First Match Since Championship

Sam Pittman
WashingtonSpirit.com
Orlando, FL. (03/19/2022) – The Washington Spirit drew the Orlando Pride in both squads’ first match of the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup tonight, 0-0.

The Spirit had a scoring chance early when Trinity Rodman fired a shot off an impressive feed from Ashley Sanchez that had to be tipped wide by Pride goalkeeper Erin McLeod in the third minute of action. Ten minutes later, Tara McKeown ripped a shot from the top of the box that again had to be saved by McLeod. Ashley Hatch got in on the action with a trio of scoring chances in the 15th and 16th minutes before an offensive drought for the Spirit ended the first half.

Who else missed this? pic.twitter.com/zByzg4yHjy

— Washington Spirit (@WashSpirit) March 19, 2022

Things started to get physical in the sixth minute of play with the first two of an eventual 28 fouls that would occur before the end of the match. The Spirit won eight and conceded six free kicks in the first half alone while also drawing a yellow card against the Pride’s Carrie Lawrence. The second half saw Washington win and concede another seven free kicks each with another five yellow cards given out before time was called. Anna Heilferty, Camryn Biegalski and Taylor Aylmer were each given yellow cards for the Spirit with Marta and Kylie Strom being carded for the Pride.

With the lack of scoring from the defending champs, goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury had to be perfect and she was. Kingsbury kicked 2022 off with a clean sheet, making 2 saves against a scrappy Pride attacking third. Washington will be back in action next Friday, March 25, as they host NJ/NY Gotham FC at Segra Field in Leesburg, VA in the first home match of 2022.

-NWSL Match Report-

Match: Orlando Pride vs. Washington Spirit

Date: March 19, 2022

Venue: Exploria Stadium

Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. ET

Weather: partly cloudy, mid-80s

Scoring Summary:

Lineups:

ORL: 1- Erin McLeod; 12- Carrie Lawrence; 4- Amy Turner; 5- Megan Montefusco; 17- Courtney Petersen; 10- Marta; 6- Angharad James; 8- Gunny Jonsdottir; 2- Sydney Leroux; 11- Darian Jenkins; 16- Mikayla Cluff

Unused Substitutes: 25- Kerry Abello; 21- Anna Moorhouse; 3- Toni Pressley; 35- Leah Pruitt

WAS: 1- Aubrey Kingsbury; 16- Julia Roddar (21- Anna Heilferty 68’); 3- Sam Staab; 6- Emily Sonnett; 5- Kelley O’Hara (30- Camryn Biegalski 68‘); 19- Dorian Bailey; 12- Andi Sullivan (20- Gaby Vincent 60’); 2- Trinity Rodman (17- Tinaya Alexander 76’); 10- Ashley Sanchez; 9- Tara McKeown (7- Taylor Aylmer 76’); 33- Ashley Hatch

Unused Substitutes: 22- Amber Brooks; 14- Morgan Goff; 18- Devon Kerr; 4- Karina Rodriguez

Stats Summary: ORL / WAS

Shots: 11 / 15

Shots On Goal: 2 / 4

Saves: 4 / 2

Blocked Shots: 3 / 6

Fouls: 15 / 13

Offside: 1 / 0

Misconduct Summary: 

ORL – Carrie Lawrence – 31’ – Yellow Card

WAS – Anna Heilferty – 73’ – Yellow Card

WAS – Camryn Biegalski – 78’ – Yellow Card

ORL – Marta – 90’ – Yellow Card

WAS – Taylor Aylmer – 90’+2’ – Yellow Card

ORL – Kylie Strom – 90’+6’ – Yellow Card

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