NWSL NEWS: Washington Spirit Continue Stride Atop NWSL Table with Win Versus Seattle
Seattle Reign fall to Washington at Maryland SoccerPlex as the Spirit clinch its first home playoff game in franchise history. Washington play on the road for the final two games of the regular season with a rematch against Reign FC scheduled for Sunday and a playoff preview versus the Chicago Red Stars held on Saturday, September 24.
NWSL Soccer News: Forward Crystal Dunn led the Washington Spirit (12-3-3, 39 points) to a 2-1, lightning-filled win past the Seattle Reign (6-6-6, 24 points) Wednesday night at the Maryland SoccerPlex. The victory clinched the first home playoff game in franchise history.
Dunn entered the match in the sixth minute for an injured Cali Farquharson and was involved in both goals, the first coming right before halftime and the second coming six minutes before the second lightning delay.
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As first-half stoppage time drew to a close, the Spirit drew a foul near midfield. Christine Nairn played the free kick along the ground on the right flank to Dunn. She cut inside on her left foot and fired a shot from the top of the box that hit off the bottom of the crossbar and into the net, giving Seattle goalkeeper Haley Kopmeyer no shot at a save.
The second Spirit goal came in similar fashion, with Dunn once again cutting in from the right and firing a shot towards goal. Kopmeyer got her hands on the shot, but could not control the save. Cheyna Williams swooped in and buried the rebound for a 2-0 lead.
Seattle midfielder Kim Little pulled one back for the Reign in the 71st minute, placing a penalty to the top left corner after a Nairn handball in the box.
Two minutes before the Williams goal, goalkeeper Kelsey Wys came up with a point-blank save on a Naho Kawasumi header to keep things at 1-0.
Washington hits the road for the final two games of the regular season, traveling to Seattle to take on the Reign on Sunday, September 11 and to Chicago to face the Red Stars on Saturday, September 24.
Source: Washington Spirit. Photo Credit: Tony Quinn/ISI Photos
