RICHMOND, VA – (Saturday, March 17, 2018) – 6235 fans were on hand at City Stadium to see the Washington Spirit fall to the North Carolina Courage, 0-3 Saturday night.
Canadian international defender/midfielder Rebecca Quinn, goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe and three U.S. internationals – midfielder Andi Sullivan, defender Taylor Smith and forward Ashley Hatch – all made the starting lineup for their Spirit debuts after joining the team in the offseason.
North Carolina netted two goals in the first half, and one in the second half, with Abby Erceg (13’), Jessica McDonald (23’) and Lynn Williams (84’) providing the scoring.
“I thought the first half hour we were pretty passive, and made a couple mistakes that led to goals, but I thought we worked our way out of it,” said Spirit Head Coach and General Manager Jim Gabarra. “In the second half, our front six defended well, and on the back line, we had a couple new players back there and they did a good job.”
The Spirit recorded eight shots on the night, with two coming on target, while North Carolina put four of their 13 total shots on frame. Washington earned eight corner kicks to the Courage’s two.
Washington will travel to the West Coast for a match-up with Seattle Reign FC on March 24, in the club’s NWSL regular season opener. Kickoff in Seattle is set for 10 p.m. ET.
The Kickers come home to City Stadium Saturday, March 24 to take on USL newcomers Indy Eleven at 5:00 p.m. Tickets are on sale now at www.richmondkickers.com.
Match Report
Match: Washington Spirit vs. North Carolina Courage
Date: March 17, 2018
Venue: City Stadium
Kickoff: 7:00
Attendance: 6,235
Weather: Clear, 30’s
Date: March 17, 2018
Venue: City Stadium
Kickoff: 7:00
Attendance: 6,235
Weather: Clear, 30’s
Scoring Summary:
|
Goals
|
1
|
2
|
F
|
|
Washington
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
NC Courage
|
2
|
1
|
3
|
NC – Abby Erceg (13’)
NC – Jessica McDonald (23’)
NC – Jessica McDonald (23’)
NC – Lynn Williams (84’)
Lineups:
Washington Spirit: Bledsoe; Smith, Church (Solaun, 46’), Johnson (c), Dydasco; Quinn, Sullivan, Dougherty Howard (Eubanks, 77’); Banini (Ordega, 64’), Pugh, Hatch (Aedo, 84’)
Substitutes Not Used: Wys, Haracic, DeBree, M. Huster
North Carolina Courage: D’ Angelo (Rowland, 46’), Mathias (Crouse, 75’), Dahlkemper (Teergarten, 75’), Erceg (c) (Chapman, 75’), Hinkle (R. Williams, 75’), Zerboni (Kurtz, 75’), Speck (Debinha, 46’), O’Sullivan (Reed, 75’), Jenkins (L. Williams, 46’), McDonald (Hamilton, 46’), Dunn (Kleiner, 75’)
Substitutes Not Used: Rassmussen
Stats Summary: WAS / NC
Shots: 8 / 13
Shots on Goal: 2 / 4
Saves: 1 / 1
Corner Kicks: 2 / 8
Fouls: 7 / 15
Offside: 3 / 7
Shots: 8 / 13
Shots on Goal: 2 / 4
Saves: 1 / 1
Corner Kicks: 2 / 8
Fouls: 7 / 15
Offside: 3 / 7
Misconduct Summary:
NC – Zerboni (Yellow Card) 51’
NC – Zerboni (Yellow Card) 51’
