Heather Stainbrook scored her first professional goal as the Washington Spirit defeated the visiting Chicago Red Stars 2-0 on Sunday in the National Women’s Soccer League.
It was the 10th home win this season for the Spirit (17-6-2), tied for the most in league history. With the result, Washington remains second in the NWSL standings (53 points) thanks to a goal difference advantage of four goals over NJ/NJ Gotham FC.
In the 31st minute, Tara McKeown’s cross deflected to an unmarked Stainbrook on the back post. The rookie took a touch to set herself up and scored from a tight angle.
In the 72nd minute, both teams went down to 10 players when Rosemonde Kouassi and Ludmila received red cards for a tussle.
In her second game back following a back injury, Trinity Rodman started the play that led to the Spirit’s second goal in the 83rd minute, picking off a pass and dribbling centrally before making a no-luck pass to Ashley Hatch. The forward forced Alyssa Naeher off her line, then cut across the goal for Makenna Morris to finish from close range. The rookie has five goals this season.
Naeher made 10 saves for the Red Stars (10-13-2).
Officials announced 17,065 spectators attended the match at D.C.’s Audi Field.
The Orlando Pride gave up three goals for the first time this season and fell 3-1 to Gotham.
Sam Hiatt, Rose Lavelle, and Ella Stevens all scored for host Gotham (16-4-5).
After going undefeated in their first 23 games of the season, the Pride (17-2-6) now have back-to-back losses. Orlando has already secured the NWSL Shield and is guaranteed the top seed in the playoffs.
Gotham, who hasn’t lost in seven straight matches, opened the scoring in the 13th minute. Stevens redirected a corner kick, and Hiatt was the last player to touch the bouncing ball before it slipped into the near-post corner.
After Barbra Banda was taken down in the box, Adriana sent her penalty into the right corner to equalize for the Pride in the 31st minute.
The Pride could not clear a cross just before halftime, allowing Lavelle to score on a wide-open shot.
In the 49th minute, Lavelle found Bruninha in the box, who centered it across the goal for Stevens to slam into the net.
Stevens and Lavelle both have a career-high seven goals this season.
Gotham recognized Kelley O’Hara after the match, who announced her retirement earlier this season. Several of her U.S. teammates, including Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, and Ali Krieger, attended the ceremony.
Claudia Zornoza scored on her 34th birthday as Angel City and the visiting Utah Royals played to a 1-1 draw.
In the 21st minute, Zornoza scored directly from a free kick, putting her shot into the right corner from about 25 yards out.
She has two goals and three assists since joining Utah (7-14-4) in August.
Sydney Leroux scored the equalizer for Angel City (7-12-6) in the 57th minute, scoring her seventh goal this season. With her back to the goal at the top of the 18-yard box, Leroux trapped a ball with her chest and turned and volleyed it into the upper left corner. Eighteen-year-old Giselle Thompson earned her first NWSL assist on the play.
The Royals finished with 21 shots, but Didi Haracic made nine saves for Angel City to keep her team in the match.
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