The Washington Spirit’s 2018 National Women’s Soccer League season came to an end Sunday morning with a 1-1 draw against Sky Blue FC in front of an announced 3,462 people at the Maryland SoccerPlex.
Spirit forward Arielle Ship — making her second appearance since returning from an ACL injury — scored in the 71st minute to give her team a point in the match, which was originally scheduled for Saturday but postponed due to lightning.
Sky Blue’s Sarah Killion scored from a distance in the 87th minute to tie the game after receiving a backpass from teammate Madison Tiernan.
Sky Blue could have won the match, had Shea Groom’s penalty kick in the 27th minute not bounced off the crossbar, but the result mattered only for pride anyway since both teams are at the bottom of the table.
The eighth-place Spirit (2-17-5, 11 points) may be finished with the season, but last-place Sky Blue (0-16-6, 6 points) still has two matches left to try to get a win before closing out a disappointing year. The next match for the New Jersey side comes on a quick turnaround, Tuesday on the road at 7:30 p.m. ET against the Chicago Red Stars. They then host the Orlando Pride for their season finale at noon Saturday.
After 70 scoreless minutes Sunday morning, Ship finally netted the first goal of the game on the Spirit’s third shot of the play. Francisca Ordega and Ship both took shots, which were saved by Sky Blue goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan, before the ensuing goal.
Field level view of @arielle_ship’s go-ahead goal! #WASvNJ pic.twitter.com/Lz35GebDeS
— Washington Spirit (@WashSpirit) September 2, 2018
Sheridan finished the day with five saves, equal to Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe, who added five for an NWSL record 108 saves this season.
Scoring Summary
|
Goals |
1 |
2 |
F |
|
Washington |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Sky Blue FC |
0 |
1 |
1 |
71’ – Arielle Ship (WAS)
87’ – Sarah Killion (NJ)
Lineups
WAS: (4-2-3-1) 1-Aubrey Bledsoe; 5-Whitney Church; 31-Zoe Clark; 13-Megan Crosson; 3-Caprice Dydasco; 17-Cali Farquharson; 15-Joanna Lohman; 8-Meggie Dougherty Howard; 36-Tiffany McCarty; 9-Havana Solaun; 14-Francisca Ordega
Substitutions: 58’ 2-Arielle Ship (Cali Farquharson); 70’ 18-Alexa Newfield (Tiffany McCarty)
Substitutes Not Used: 38-Morgan Ruhl; 7-Taylor Smith
NJ: (4-4-2) 1-Kailen Sheridan; 8-Erica Skroski; 22-Mandy Freeman; 17-Domi Richardson; 9-Amanda Frisbie; 16-Sarah Killion; 73-Madison Tierman; 31-Christina Gibbons; 7-Jennifer Hoy; 6-Shea Groom; 2-McKenzie Meehan
Substitutions: 70’ 29-Amandine Pierre-Louis (Jennifer Hoy); 83’ 24-Nickolette Driesse (McKenzie Meehan); 89’ 15-Eliza Bona (Madison Tierman)
Substitutes Not Used: 13-Rebekah Scott; 18-Gabby Cuevas; 27-Caroline Casey
Stats Summary: WAS / NJ
Possession: 40.5% / 59.5%
Shots: 10 / 20
Shots on Goal: 6 / 6
Saves: 5 / 5
Corner Kicks: 5 / 6
Fouls: 14 / 7
Offside: 5 / 3
Misconduct Summary
58’ Yellow Card – Sarah Killion (NJ)
Officials
Referee: Mike Hohnholz
Assistant Referee 1: Matthew Osterhouse
Assistant Referee 2: Jordan Davis
Fourth Official: Max Smith