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The Washington Spirit of the National Women's Soccer League announced today that acting head coach Kris Ward is being officially hired as the club's head coach on a permanent basis. But we’ll see what happens tomorrow.Washington Spirit Name Kris Ward Permanent Head CoachĭecemNational Women's Soccer League (NWSL) - Washington Spirit News Release “Hopefully, I don’t allow myself to think about it too much. “I would be overjoyed to bring that first championship back home,” Sullivan said. After the year her teammates, members of the organization and its fan base have had to endure, Sullivan said she agrees with her teammate Hatch in saying, “Why not us?”
#WASHINGTON SPIRIT PROFESSIONAL#
The Freedom are the last D.C.-based women’s professional soccer team to win a championship after winning it all in 2003. Stadium as a young girl to see her favorite player, Mia Hamm, with the Washington Freedom of the defunct Women’s United Soccer Association, and in later years, seeing the Spirit at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Germantown, Maryland. is Sullivan, who grew up Lorton, Virginia, and played with multiple youth soccer teams in the region. One person who has a special tie to bringing a championship home to D.C. Bledsoe’s efforts in goal led to her receiving her second straight Goalkeeper of the Year award. Since returning to the field after two COVID-19-related forfeits, Washington has collected five shutouts in eight games. Under Ward, the Spirit transformed its defense, thanks to a lot of player input. She was joined by striker Trinity Rodman, who was named Rookie of the Year, after the 19-year-old scored six goals and added six assists in her first professional season.
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Hatch, who had already captured the Golden Boot award, was named to the NWSL’s Best XI First Team. Washington’s offensive weapons were recently rewarded for their outstanding play throughout the year. “All the games leading up has helped prepare everyone to be able to change in game if there are things that need to happen.”Įveryone outside of midfielder Tori Huster (ruptured Achilles tendon) is good to go for Saturday. “We’ve had to adjust and adapt during a lot of the games,” Ward said. Instead, the Spirit will look to play its offensive style and adjust as the game progresses. Ward said he does not plan to make huge personnel changes to combat Chicago. In the three games this season against Chicago, Washington has lost twice and drawn once but all of those matches were before the coaching change. women’s national team stars Alyssa Naeher, Julie Ertz, Tierna Davidson and Mallory Pugh. They also feature loads of experienced players, including U.S. The Red Stars defeated top-seeded Portland to get to the championship game and have shut out four of their last five opponents. That’s when we kind of started this final push,” captain Andi Sullivan said.Īs Washington remains unstoppable, Chicago has also been unbeatable. “I think people have kind of leaned into that chaos and mentality, and I think that was a big turning point for us this season. While there was doubt about how the team would perform following the removal of former coach Richie Burke, interim coach Kris Ward said it was the fuel the players needed to hit an extra gear. National Women’s Soccer League November 14, 2021 WITH THE DIP ? #RGNvWAS | | #NWSL21 /zeLSMB1VZ3 Ashley Sanchez’s daring chip shot in the 68th minute helped Washington knock out No. This time around, the Spirit are riding high on an eight-game unbeaten streak, which includes two playoff wins.
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It will be Washington’s second appearance in the championship game after losing in penalty kicks in 2016 to the Western New York Flash. “I feel like we’ve been embracing that all year because every time something doesn’t go our away, which a lot of things have not gone our this year, we’ve just been performing, keep showing up every day and just keep saying ‘it is meant to be,'” striker Ashley Hatch said. Coined the “team of destiny” by goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe after their first-round playoff win over North Carolina, Washington’s players said during Friday’s news conference that their focus is to win the franchise’s first league title. This Saturday, the Spirit are focused on the task at hand, as they take on the Chicago Red Stars in the NWSL Championship (12 p.m. On the field, the Washington Spirit have let their play do the talking for the last three months following multiple controversies that have plagued the National Women’s Soccer franchise this season. Washington Spirit players celebrate after defeating the OL Reign in the semifinals of the NWSL soccer playoffs Sunday, Nov. Business & Finance Click to expand menu.