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2018 Washington Spirit season

Washington Spirit 2018 soccer season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2018 season is Washington Spirit's sixth season, competing in the National Women's Soccer League, the top division of women's soccer in the United States. On August 21, the Spirit parted ways with Head Coach and General Manager Jim Gabarra, assistant coach Tom Torres took over as interim Head Coach for the remaining 3 games of the season.[1]

OwnerBill Lynch
General managerChris Hummer
Head coachTom Torres (interim)
StadiumMaryland SoccerPlex
Quick facts season, Owner ...
Washington Spirit
2018 season
OwnerBill Lynch
General managerChris Hummer
Head coachTom Torres (interim)
StadiumMaryland SoccerPlex
NWSL8th
Top goalscorerAshley Hatch (4)
Highest home attendance7,976
(Aug 25 vs. Portland at Audi Field)
Lowest home attendance2,433
(May 23 vs. North Carolina)
Average home league attendance3,892
← 2017
2019 →
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After a difficult 2017 season, the Spirit began rebuilding their team, continuing with a youth centered approach. Considered a successful 2018 draft, Washington recruited U.S. international Andi Sullivan (no. 1 overall pick) and Canadian international Quinn[n 1] (no. 3 overall pick).[2][3] In addition to the draft, the Spirit traded Crystal Dunn's player rights for 2017 Rookie of the Year Ashley Hatch and rookie outside back Taylor Smith.[4] The unfortunate folding of Boston Breakers allowed the Spirit to bring in U.S. international playmaker, Rose Lavelle via the subsequent dispersal draft.[5] What seemed to be only key loss for the Spirit was captain and anchor centerback, Shelina Zadorsky, traded to Orlando Pride for promising goalkeeper, Aubrey Bledsoe.[6]

The season opened with a loss to Seattle, but saw the return of Joanna Lohman, held back in 2017 through injury, and scored in her substitute appearance.[7] After several mediocre performances in March and April, the Spirit would struggle for the remainder of the season, winning only one more match (of two all season) against struggling Sky Blue FC. A combination of injuries to forwards Mallory Pugh, Havana Solaun, and Arielle Ship hamstrung the Spirit attack who were shutout 15 matches (including a 7-match streak).[8]

On August 21, after eight straight losses and being eliminated from playoff contention, the Spirit fired head coach, Jim Gabarra, and appointed assistant coach, Tom Torres as interim head coach.[1] Torres lead the Spirit through the final three matches of the season at home, including the Spirit's debut at newly opened Audi Field against Portland Thorns on August 25. The match set a new club record for home attendance with 7,976 fans.[9]

The last match of the season against Sky Blue FC, the Spirit ended a league-record setting goal drought at 765-minutes after Arielle Ship scored the opener of a 1–1 draw in the 71st minute.[10] The match also earned Aubrey Bledsoe the league-wide record for saves in a single season at 108.[10]

Club

Roster

The first-team roster of Washington Spirit.[11]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

More information No., Pos. ...
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  • (FP) = Federation player[12]
  • (DD) = Dispersal draft player[13]
  • (INT) = International roster player[13]

Team management

Head Coach Jim Gabarra
First Assistant Coach Briana Scurry
Goalkeeping Coach Jack Stefanowski
Assistant Coach Tom Torres
Assistant Coach Kati Jo Spisak
Director of Sports Science Kevin Boyle

Source:[11]

Competitions

Preseason

March 10, Sat Preseason Washington Spirit 1–1 University of North Carolina Leesburg, Virginia
19:15 EDT (UTC-04) Eubanks 88' Report Andrzejewski 66' Stadium: Evergreen Sportsplex
Attendance: 2,000
March 17, Sat Preseason Washington Spirit 0–3 North Carolina Courage Richmond, Virginia
19:00 EDT (UTC-04) Report Erceg 13'
MacDonald 23'
Zerboni Yellow card 51'
Hamilton 84'		 Stadium: City Stadium
Attendance: 6,235

Regular season

March 24, Sat 1 Seattle Reign 2–1 Washington Spirit Seattle, Washington
15:30 EDT (UTC-04) Rapinoe 7' Yellow card 64'
Taylor 35' (Rapinoe)
Andrews Yellow card 90'		 Box
Report		 Lohman 68' (Banini) Stadium: Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 3,561
March 31, Sat 2 Washington Spirit 2–0 Orlando Pride Boyds, Maryland
15:30 EDT (UTC-04) Church Yellow card 44'
Pugh 80' (Hatch)
Hatch 88'		 Report Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
Attendance: 4,989
Note: Televised on Lifetime.
April 14, Sat 3 Washington Spirit 2–4 North Carolina Courage Boyds, Maryland
19:00 EDT (UTC-04) Pugh 3'
Ordega 58' (Solaun)
Johnson Yellow card 84'		 Report Dunn 20' (McDonald)
Zerboni 24' (Williams), 48' (Hamilton)
Williams 66' (Dunn)		 Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
Attendance: 3,458
Referee: Jasmine Peralta
April 20, Fri 4 Portland Thorns FC 1–1 Washington Spirit Portland, Oregon
22:30 EDT (UTC-04) Sonnett Yellow card 39'
Sinclair 45+2' (pen.)
Horan Yellow card 88'		 Report Ordega 37'
Bledsoe Yellow card 86'		 Stadium: Providence Park
Attendance: 14,485
April 28, Sat 5 Washington Spirit 1–1 Chicago Red Stars Boyds, Maryland
19:00 EDT (UTC-04) Ordega 4' (Pugh) Report Mautz 20' Yellow card 56'
Nagasato Yellow card 83'
Kerr Yellow card 90+1'		 Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
Attendance: 3,448
May 5, Sat 6 Utah Royals FC 2–0 Washington Spirit Sandy, Utah
21:00 EDT (UTC-04) O'Hara 7' (Rodriguez)
Sauerbrunn Yellow card 15'
Matheson 66'		 Report Smith Yellow card 72' Stadium: Rio Tinto Stadium
Attendance: 7,551
May 12, Sat 7 North Carolina Courage 1–0 Washington Spirit Cary, North Carolina
19:00 EDT (UTC-04) Erceg 63' (Hinkle) Report Ordega Yellow card 38' Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 5,866
May 19, Sat 8 Washington Spirit 0–1 Portland Thorns FC Boyds, Maryland
19:00 EDT (UTC-04) Report Carpenter 68' (Crnogorčević)
Horan Yellow card 84'		 Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
Attendance: 3,284
May 23, Wed 9 Washington Spirit 1–0 Sky Blue FC Boyds, Maryland
19:30 EDT (UTC-04) Ordega Yellow card 16'
Hatch 64' (Sullivan)		 Report Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
Attendance: 2,433
May 27, Sun 10 Houston Dash 3–2 Washington Spirit Houston, Texas
18:00 EDT (UTC-04) Daly 45+1' (Prince), 78' (Kgatlana) Yellow card 90+2'
Ohai 46'		 Report Dougherty Howard Yellow card 5'
Ordega Yellow card 45+2'
Banini
Hatch 90+1'		 Stadium: BBVA Compass Stadium
Attendance: 4,045
June 2, Sat 11 Washington Spirit 0–2 Chicago Red Stars Boyds, Maryland
15:30 EDT (UTC-04) Lohman Yellow card 24' Report Kerr 25'
Stanton Yellow card 32'
Nagasato 48' (Mautz)
Mautz Yellow card 75'		 Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
Attendance: 3,199
Note: Lifetime game but got delayed to 9 pm ET
June 8, Fri 12 Sky Blue FC 0–0 Washington Spirit Piscataway, New Jersey
19:00 EDT (UTC-04) Meehan Yellow card 39'
Killion Yellow card 67'		 Report Dougherty Howard Yellow card 50'
Dydasco Yellow card 88'		 Stadium: Yurack Field
Attendance: 2,188
June 16, Sat 13 Washington Spirit 0–0 Seattle Reign Boyds, Maryland
19:00 EDT (UTC-04) Quinn Yellow card 63'
Hatch Yellow card 90+5'		 Report Addo Yellow card 47'
Taylor Yellow card 90+2'		 Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
Attendance: 3,509
June 23, Sat 14 Washington Spirit 0–1 Orlando Pride Boyds, Maryland
19:00 EDT (UTC-04) Kennedy 11' Report Dydasco Yellow card 18'
Dougherty Howard Yellow card 90+3'		 Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
Attendance: 4,005
Note: Televised on ESPNews.
July 1, Sun 15 Chicago Red Stars 2–0 Washington Spirit Bridgeview, Illinois
18:00 EDT (UTC-04) Short 34' (Colaprico)
Nagasato 60' (Kerr)
Mautz Yellow card 65'		 [14] Johnson Yellow card 24'
Hatch Yellow card 86'		 Stadium: Toyota Park
Attendance: 2,858
Referee: Sergii Demianchuk
July 7, Sat 16 Orlando Pride 2–1 Washington Spirit Orlando Pride
19:30 EDT (UTC-04) Leroux 45+2' (Kennedy)
Marta 86' (Leroux) Yellow card 90+3'		 Report Hatch 26' (Church) Stadium: Orlando City Stadium
Attendance: 4,621
Note: Televised on ESPNews.
July 11, Wed 17 North Carolina Courage 2–0 Washington Spirit Cary, North Carolina
EDT (UTC-04) Debinha 12'
O'Sullivan Yellow card 53'
MacDonald 60' (Dunn)		 Report Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 3,409
July 22, Sun 18 Washington Spirit 0–1 Houston Dash Boyds, Maryland
10:00 EDT (UTC-04) Report Daly 3' (Huerta) Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
Attendance: 3,623
Note: Game was originally scheduled for July 21, was rescheduled due to poor weather conditions
August 5, Sun 19 Seattle Reign 2–0 Washington Spirit Seattle, Washington
21:00 EDT (UTC-04) Spencer 44' (Long)
Taylor 71' (Rapinoe)
Oyster Yellow card 84'		 Report Stadium: Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 3,704
August 8, Wed 20 Utah Royals FC 1–0 Washington Spirit Sandy, Utah
22:00 EDT (UTC-04) Stengel 74' (Lytle) Report Stadium: Rio Tinto Stadium
Attendance: 8,154
August 17, Fri 21 Houston Dash 4–0 Washington Spirit Houston, Texas
20:30 EDT (UTC-04) Ohai 41' (Daly)
Huerta 58' (Comeau), 76' (Daly)
Simon 84' (Latsko)		 Report Stadium: BBVA Compass Stadium
Attendance: 3,007
August 22, Wed 22 Washington Spirit 0–1 Utah Royals FC Boyds, Maryland
19:30 EDT (UTC-04) Report Rodriguez 12'
Corsie Yellow card 17'		 Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
Attendance: 3,318
August 25, Sat 23 Washington Spirit 0–1 Portland Thorns FC Washington, D.C.
20:00 EDT (UTC-04) Church Yellow card 40' Report Heath 15' (Raso) Stadium: Audi Field
Attendance: 7,976
Referee: Katja Koroleva
Note: Televised on ESPNews.
September 1, Sat 24 Washington Spirit 1–1 Sky Blue FC Boyds, Maryland
19:00 EDT (UTC-04) Ship 71' Report Killion Yellow card 58' 87' (Tiernan) Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
Attendance: 3,462
Note: Game was postponed until September 2 at 10 a.m. (ET) due to lightning.

Regular-season standings

More information Pos, Pld ...
Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 North Carolina Courage (C) 24 17 6 1 53 17 +36 57 NWSL Shield
2 Portland Thorns FC 24 12 6 6 40 28 +12 42 NWSL Playoffs
3 Seattle Reign FC 24 11 8 5 27 19 +8 41
4 Chicago Red Stars 24 9 10 5 38 28 +10 37
5 Utah Royals FC 24 9 8 7 22 23 −1 35
6 Houston Dash 24 9 5 10 35 39 −4 32
7 Orlando Pride 24 8 6 10 30 37 −7 30
8 Washington Spirit 24 2 5 17 12 35 −23 11
9 Sky Blue FC 24 1 6 17 21 52 −31 9
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Source: NWSL
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(C) Champions

Results summary

More information Overall, Home ...
OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
24 2 5 17 12 35  −23 11 2 3 7 7 13  −6 0 2 10 5 22  −17
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Last updated: September 2, 2018.
Source: Match reports

Results by round

More information Round, Stadium ...
Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324
StadiumAHHAHAAHHAHAHHAAAHAAAHHH
ResultLWLDDLLLWLLDDLLLLLLLLLLD
Position[n 2]835558888888888888888888
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Updated to match(es) played on September 2, 2018. Source: Match reports
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

NWSL Playoffs

The Spirit were eliminated from playoff contention on July 22 after a 1–0 home loss to Houston Dash.[15]

Statistics

Appearances and goals

As of September 3, 2018[16]
More information No., Pos ...
No. Pos Nat Player TotalNWSL
AppsGoalsAppsGoals
Defenders:
3 DF United States USA Caprice Dydasco 24021+30
5 DF United States USA Whitney Church 22021+10
7 DF United States USA Taylor Smith 230230
13 DF United States USA Megan Crosson 1010
24 DF Cameroon CMR Estelle Johnson 210210
31 DF United States USA Zoe Clark 1010
Midfielders:
4 MF Canada CAN Quinn 17016+10
6 MF United States USA Andi Sullivan 23022+10
9 MF United States USA Havana Solaun 1305+80
12 MF United States USA Morgan Proffitt 402+20
15 MF United States USA Joanna Lohman 1314+91
16 MF United States USA Rose Lavelle 1105+60
18 MF United States USA Alexa Newfield 1010
19 MF United States USA Megan Dougherty Howard 23014+90
23 MF United States USA Tori Huster 17015+20
Forwards:
2 FW United States USA Arielle Ship 210+21
8 FW United States USA Mallory Eubanks 1205+70
10 FW Argentina ARG Estefania Banini 12111+11
11 FW United States USA Mallory Pugh 15213+22
14 FW Nigeria NGR Francisca Ordega 18315+33
17 FW United States USA Cali Farquharson 501+40
27 FW Chile CHI Yanara Aedo 0000
33 FW United States USA Ashley Hatch 224224
36 FW United States USA Tiffany McCarty 1010
88 FW United States USA Tiffany Weimer 301+20
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Italics indicates player left team midway through season.

Goalkeepers

More information GP, GS ...
No. Nat Player National Women's Soccer League
GP GS MIN W L D GA GAA CS
1 United StatesAubrey Bledsoe 212118902125301.434
19 United StatesKelsey Wys 119001022.000
21 Bosnia and HerzegovinaDiDi Haracic 2218002031.500
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Honors and awards

NWSL Yearly Awards

More information Award, Result ...
Award Result Player Ref
Rookie of the Year Nominated United States Andi Sullivan [17]
Goalkeeper of the Year Nominated United States Aubrey Bledsoe [18]
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NWSL Team of the Month

More information Month, Goalkeeper ...
Month Goalkeeper Defenders Midfielders Forwards Ref.
March United States Mallory Pugh [19]
April United States Aubrey Bledsoe Cameroon Estelle Johnson Nigeria Francisca Ordega
United States Mallory Pugh		 [20]
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NWSL Weekly Awards

NWSL Player of the Week

More information Week, Result ...
Week Result Player Ref
2 Won United States Mallory Pugh [21]
11/12 Won United States Aubrey Bledsoe [22]
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NWSL Goal of the Week

More information Week, Result ...
Week Result Player Ref.
1 Nominated United States Joanna Lohman [23]
2 Nominated United States Mallory Pugh [24]
3 Nominated United States Mallory Pugh [25]
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NWSL Save of the Week

More information Week, Result ...
Week Result Player Ref.
1 Nominated United States Aubrey Bledsoe [26]
2 Nominated United States Aubrey Bledsoe [27]
3 Nominated United States Aubrey Bledsoe [28]
4 Won United States Aubrey Bledsoe [29]
5 Won United States Aubrey Bledsoe [30]
11/12 Nominated United States Aubrey Bledsoe [31]
15 Nominated United States Aubrey Bledsoe [32]
16 Nominated United States Aubrey Bledsoe [33]
22 Nominated United States DiDi Haracic [34]
24 Nominated United States Aubrey Bledsoe [35]
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Transfers

In

More information Date, Player ...
Date Player Number Position Previous club Fee/notes
January 16, 2018United States Ashley Hatch33FWUnited States North Carolina CourageTrade with Smith for Dunn's rights[4]
United States Taylor Smith7DFUnited States North Carolina CourageTrade with Hatch for Dunn's rights[4]
January 23, 2018United States Aubrey Bledsoe1GKUnited States Orlando PrideTrade for Zadorsky and 2019 1st round draft pick[6]
January 30, 2018United States Rose Lavelle16MFUnited States Boston Breakers2018 Dispersal Draft, 1st overall[5]
United States Tiffany Weimer–FWUnited States Boston Breakers2018 Dispersal Draft, 20th overall[5]
March 21, 2018United States Tiffany Weimer88FWUnited States Houston DashSigned off waivers[36]
March 29, 2018United States Mallory Eubanks22FWUnited States Mississippi State UniversitySigned via National Team Player Replacement for Banini, signed to full contract on May 17[37]
June 29, 2018United States Maddie Huster25MFUnited States Wake Forest UniversitySigned, was a 2018 College Draft Pick[38]
August 30, 2018United States Megan Crosson13DFSpain UD Granadilla TenerifeSigned, National Team replacement[39]
United States Brenna Connell34MFUnited States Washington Spirit ReservesSigned, National Team replacement[39]
United States Zoe Clark31DFUnited States Maryland TerrapinsSigned, National Team replacement[39]
United States Tiffay McCarty36FWUnited States Florida State SeminolesSigned, National Team replacement[39]
United States Alexa Newfield18FWUnited States Utah Royals FCSigned, National Team replacement[39]
United States Morgan Ruhl38GKUnited States LSU TigersSigned, National Team replacement[39]
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Out

More information Date, Player ...
Date Player Number Position New club Fee/notes
October 23, 2017Denmark Line Jensen7FWWaived[40]
January 16, 2018Canada Lindsay Agnew8FWUnited States Houston DashTraded for 2018 3rd overall draft pick[41]
January 23, 2018Canada Shelina Zadorsky4DFUnited States Orlando PrideTrade for Zadorsky and 2019 1st round draft pick[6]
February 2, 2018United States Alyssa Kleiner22DFWaived[42]
February 12, 2018United States Kassey Kallman6DFRetired[43][non-primary source needed][44]
February 13, 2018United States Tiffany Weimer–FWUnited States Houston DashTrade for 2019 4th round draft pick[45]
February 14, 2018Canada Stephanie Labbé1GKReleased rights[46]
February 24, 2018United States Cheyna Matthews20FWOut for 2018 season; pregnancy[47][non-primary source needed]
March 19, 2018United States Schuyler DeBree13FWWaived, rights retained[48]
United States Elizabeth Wenger18DFWaived, rights retained[48]
United States Mallory Eubanks22FWWaived, rights retained[48]
United States Maddie Huster25MFWaived, rights retained[48]
United States Brittany Basinger28DFWaived, rights retained[48]
United States Rachel Moore32FWWaived, rights retained[48]
June 19, 2018United States Morgan Proffitt12MFCzech Republic SK Slavia PrahaWaived. Signed with SK Slavia Praha[49]
June 21, 2018Chile Yanara Aedo27FWSpain Valencia CF FemeninoWaived. Signed with Valencia CF Femenino[50]
July 25, 2018United States Maddie Huster25MFWaived.[48]
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Draft picks

Draft picks are not automatically signed to the team roster. Only those who are signed to a contract will be listed as transfers in. Only trades involving draft picks and executed during the 2018 NWSL College Draft will be listed in the notes.

More information Player, Pos ...
Player Pos Previous club Notes Ref
United States Andi SullivanMFUnited States Stanford UniversityRound 1, Pick 1 (1st overall)[51]
Canada QuinnMFUnited States Duke UniversityRound 1, Pick 3 (3rd overall)[52]
United States Schuyler DeBreeDFUnited States Duke UniversityRound 2, Pick 1 (11th overall)[52]
United States Mallory EubanksFWUnited States Mississippi State UniversityRound 2, Pick 6 (16th overall)[52]
United States Elizabeth WengerDFUnited States Georgetown UniversityRound 2, Pick 7 (17th overall)
(via 2018 Dispersal Draft, 17th overall)		[5][52]
United States Brittany BasingerDFUnited States Penn State UniversityRound 3, Pick 1 (21st overall)[52]
United States Maddie HusterMFUnited States Wake Forest UniversityRound 3, Pick 6 (26th overall)[52]
United States Rachel MooreMFUnited States College of William & MaryRound 4, Pick 1 (31st overall)[52]
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Notes

  1. [1]
    Then known as Rebecca Quinn
  2. [2]
    Washington Spirit's position in the league at the end of match day

References

External links

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