2017 Washington Spirit season

The 2017 season is Washington Spirit's fifth season, competing in the National Women's Soccer League, the top division of women's soccer in the United States.

Washington Spirit
2017 season
General ManagerChris Hummer
Head CoachJim Gabarra
StadiumMaryland SoccerPlex
NWSL10th
Top goalscorerMallory Pugh (6)
Highest home attendance5,200
(July 8 vs. Orlando)
Lowest home attendance2,365
(Aug 30 vs. North Carolina)
Average home league attendance3,491

Review

In the aftermath of finishing 2016 runners-up, the Spirit saw a series of key departures including captain Ali Krieger (traded to Orlando Pride), Christine Nairn and Diana Matheson (both traded to Seattle Reign), and Crystal Dunn leaving for Chelsea, while retaining her contracting rights. In addition to the departures, key injuries to Joanna Lohman, Francisca Ordega, and goalkeeper Kelsey Wys limited the Spirit's playing options.

Unable to adequately replace these players, the Spirit struggled to compete throughout the 2017 season ultimately finishing last (10th) for the first time since the inaugural season.[1] However, building for the future, Gabarra was able to recruit U.S. national team prospect, Mallory Pugh midseason.[2] Pugh would go on to lead the team in scoring, registering 6 goals in 16 games.[3]

Club

Roster

The first-team roster of Washington Spirit.[4]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  CAN Stephanie Labbé (FP)
2 FW  USA Arielle Ship
3 DF  USA Caprice Dydasco
4 DF  CAN Shelina Zadorsky (FP)
5 DF  USA Whitney Church
6 DF  USA Kassey Kallman
7 MF  DEN Line Sigvardsen Jensen
8 FW  CAN Lindsay Agnew
9 MF  USA Havana Solaun
10 FW  ARG Estefanía Banini
11 FW  USA Mallory Pugh (FP)
12 MF  USA Morgan Proffitt
No. Pos. Nation Player
14 FW  NGA Francisca Ordega
15 MF  USA Joanna Lohman
17 FW  USA Cali Farquharson
18 GK  USA Kelsey Wys
20 FW  USA Cheyna Williams
21 GK  USA DiDi Haracic
22 DF  USA Alyssa Kleiner
23 MF  USA Tori Huster
24 DF  CMR Estelle Johnson
27 FW  CHI Yanara Aedo
29 MF  USA Megan Dougherty Howard
  • (FP) = Federation player

Team management
Owner Bill Lynch
General Manager Jim Gabarra
Head Coach Jim Gabarra

Source:[4]

Competitions

Preseason

On February 2, the Washington Spirit announced its preseason schedule.[5]

March 18, Sat Washington Spirit3–0Penn State UniversityBoyds, Maryland
14:00 EDT (UTC-04) Stengel  34'
Mewis  43', 53'		 [p 1] Stadium: Maryland Soccerplex
Attendance: 300
Note: Played in three 30-minute periods.
March 25, Sat Washington Spirit5–0University of North CarolinaLeesburg, Virginia
18:30 EDT (UTC-04) Sigvardsen Jensen  35'  58'
Stengel  49'
Williams  52'
Mewis  81'
Agnew  89'		 [p 2] Stadium: Evergreen Sportsplex
Attendance: 2,000
April 1, Sat Washington Spirit4–3Duke UniversityBoyds, Maryland
14:00 EDT (UTC-04) Stengel  23', 59'
Dougherty Howard  37'
Williams  52'		 [p 3] Dorsey  27', 44'
McCoy  41'		 Stadium: Maryland Soccerplex
April 8, Sat Washington Spirit2–0University of VirginiaBoyds, Maryland
19:00 EDT (UTC-04) Mewis  21'
Lohman  65'		 [p 4] Stadium: Maryland Soccerplex

Regular season
Sat Apr 15 1Washington Spirit0–1North Carolina CourageBoyds, Maryland
3:00 p.m. Mewis  28'
Zardorsky  82'		 [m 1] Zerboni  18'  70' Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
Attendance: 2,407
Sat Apr 22 2Orlando Pride1–1Washington SpiritOrlando, Florida
4:00 p.m. Jensen  60'
Kallman  65'
Huster  75'		 Report
Box Score		 Alleway  59'
Evans  86'		 Stadium: Orlando City Stadium
Attendance: 14,452
Referee: Karen Abt
Sat Apr 29 3Washington Spirit0–1Houston DashBoyds, Maryland
7:00 p.m. Report
Box Score		 Ohai  28'
Benites  59'		 Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
Attendance: 3,154
Referee: Christina Unkel
Sat May 6 4Washington Spirit4–3Sky Blue FCBoyds, Maryland
7:00 p.m. Ordega  6', 56'
Simon  26' (o.g.)
Solaun  34'
Williams  87'		 Report
Box Score		 O'Hara  12'
Simon  39'
Killion  50', 71' (pen.)		 Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
Attendance: 3,190
Sat May 13 5Seattle Reign FC6–2Washington SpiritSeattle, Washington
4:00 p.m. Christine Nairn  20'
Yanez  35'
Kawasumi  69'
Rapinoe  71' (pen.), 76'
Elston  79'		 Report
Box Score		 Solaun  60'
Mewis  88'		 Stadium: Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 3,007
Referee: Victor Rivas
Sat May 20 6Washington Spirit0–1FC Kansas CityBoyds, Maryland
7:00 p.m. Ordega  84' Report
Box Score		 Newfield  39'
Saurbrunn  48'		 Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
Attendance: 3,714
Sat May 27 7FC Kansas City3–2Washington SpiritKansas City, Missouri
8:00 p.m. Leroux  9', 27'
Newfield  15'  70'
Sauerbrunn  60'
Taylor  89'		 Report
Box Score		 Mewis  5'
Dougherty Howard  39'
Solaun  83'
Ordega  86'		 Stadium: Swope Soccer Village
Attendance: 1,728
Sat June 3 8Washington Spirit2–0Houston DashBoyds, Maryland
7:00 p.m. Williams  3'
Pugh  69'		 Report
Box Score		 Brooks  63' Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
Attendance: 3,096
Sat June 17 9Chicago Red Stars1–1Washington SpiritBridgeview, Illinois
2:50 p.m. Naughton  31'
Press  82' (penalty)		 Report
Box Score		 Ordega  42' (Williams)
Howard  62'
Zadorsky  81'		 Stadium: Toyota Park
Attendance: 3,189
Referee: Christopher Greer
Assistant referees: Joshua Haimes, Gjovalin Bori
Fourth official: Jeffrey Swartzel
Sat June 24 10Washington Spirit1–0Portland Thorns FCBoyds, Maryland
4:00 p.m. Ordega  19' Report
Box Score		 Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
Attendance: 4,319
Sat July 1 11Boston Breakers1–0Washington SpiritBoston, Massachusetts
4:00 p.m. Chapman  62'
Purce  72' (White)		 Report Johnson  64' Stadium: Jordan Field
Attendance: 2,523
Referee: Elvis Osmanovic
Sat July 8 12Washington Spirit2–2Orlando PrideBoyds, Maryland
4:00 p.m. Pugh  24' (Ordega), 90' (pen.) Report Marta  10', 56' (pen.) Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
Attendance: 5,200
Sat July 15 13Houston Dash2–1Washington SpiritHouston, Texas
8:30 p.m. Poliana  25' (Beckie)
Andressinha  53' (Daly)
Van Wyk  59'		 Report Johnson  75' (Solaun) Stadium: BBVA Compass Stadium
Attendance: 3,332
Sat July 22 14Portland Thorns FC2–1Washington SpiritPortland, Oregon
10:00 p.m. Sykes  30'
Long  62'
Weber  80'		 Report
Box Score		 Ship  12'
Solaun  58'
Dydasco  72'		 Stadium: Providence Park
Attendance: 18,478
Fri August 4 15Sky Blue FC1–4Washington SpiritPiscataway, New Jersey
7:00 p.m. Hayes  2' Report
Box Score		 Ship  51'
Church  57'
Williams  61'
Howard  73'
Solaun  87'		 Stadium: Yurcak Field
Attendance: 2,496
Tue August 8 16Orlando Pride3–0Washington SpiritOrlando, Florida
7:00 p.m. Evans  45'
Marta  52'
Pereira  57'
Umogagu  62'
Morgan  64'		 Report
Box Score		 Stadium: Orlando City Stadium
Attendance: 4,273
Referee: Christina Unkel
Sat August 12 17Washington Spirit2–2Boston BreakersBoyds, Maryland
4:00 p.m. Johnson  6'
Williams  64'		 Report Leon  44'  79'
Salem  90+5'		 Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
Attendance: 3,722
Referee: Danielle Chesky
Sat August 19 18North Carolina Courage2–0Washington SpiritCary, North Carolina
4:00 p.m. Hatch  46'
Kallman  84' (o.g.)
Dahlkemper  90+2'		 Report Dydasco  55'
Farquharson  83'		 Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 3,530
Referee: Elvis Osmanovic
Sat August 26 19Washington Spirit1–2Chicago Red StarsBoyds, Maryland
7:00 p.m. Williams  81'
Johnson  90+3'		 Report Kristen Mavis  23'
Mautz  66'
Colaprico  70'
Press  87'		 Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
Attendance: 3,469
Referee: Kevin Broadley
Wed August 30 20Washington Spirit2–3North Carolina CourageBoyds, Maryland
7:30 p.m. Banini  8'
Farquharson  23'
Huster  45'
Williams  73'		 Report Mewis  45+1'
McDonald  61'  66'		 Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
Attendance: 2,365
Referee: Amber O'Connor
Sat September 2 21Portland Thorns FC4–0Washington SpiritPortland, Oregon
4:30 p.m. Nadim  22'
Sinclair  25'  81'
Reynolds  36'
Sonnett  40'		 Report Haracic  21' Stadium: Providence Park
Attendance: 19,141
Referee: Ekaterina Koroleva
Sun September 10 22Sky Blue FC1–2Washington SpiritPiscataway, New Jersey
6:00 p.m. Hayes  43' Report Church  75'
Pugh  85'		 Stadium: Yurcak Field
Attendance: 2,008
Referee: Becky Pagan
Sat September 23 23Washington Spirit0–3Boston BreakersBoyds, Maryland
7:00 p.m. Report
Box Score		 Dowie  47'
Kallman  54' (o.g.)
Leon  55'
Frisbie  69'
White  77'		 Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
Attendance: 3,475
Referee: Luis Guardia
Sat September 30 24Washington Spirit2–3Seattle Reign FCBoyds, Maryland
7:00 p.m. Pugh  27', 32' Report
Box Score		 Fishlock  71', 90'
Crummer  83'		 Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
Attendance: 3,780
Referee: Danielle Chesky

Regular season standings

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 North Carolina Courage 24 16 1 7 38 22 +16 49 NWSL Shield
2 Portland Thorns FC (C) 24 14 5 5 37 20 +17 47 NWSL Playoffs
3 Orlando Pride 24 11 7 6 45 31 +14 40
4 Chicago Red Stars 24 11 6 7 33 30 +3 39
5 Seattle Reign FC 24 9 7 8 43 37 +6 34
6 Sky Blue FC 24 10 3 11 42 51 −9 33
7 FC Kansas City 24 8 7 9 29 31 −2 31
8 Houston Dash 24 7 3 14 23 39 −16 24
9 Boston Breakers 24 4 7 13 24 35 −11 19
10 Washington Spirit 24 5 4 15 30 48 −18 19
Source: NWSL
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(C) Champion.

Results summary
OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
24 5 4 15 30 48  −18 19 3 2 7 16 21  −5 2 2 8 14 27  −13

Last updated: October 1, 2017.
Source: Match reports

Results by round
Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324
GroundHAHHAHAHAHAHAAAAHAHHAAHH
ResultLDLWLLLWDWLDLLWLDLLLLWLL
Position[n 1]789710101098810101010910101010101091010
Updated to match(es) played on October 1, 2017. Source: Match reports
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Postseason playoff

The Spirit struggled to gain any momentum during the 2017 season and were the first team to be eliminated from playoff contention after a home loss to the Chicago Red Stars on August 26 (Week 19).[6]

Squad statistics

Squad statistics are of regular season only

Appearances and goals
As of October 1, 2017[7]
No. Pos Nat Player TotalNWSL
AppsGoalsAppsGoals
Defenders:
3 DF Caprice Dydasco 160160
4 DF Shelina Zadorsky 210210
5 DF Whitney Church 221221
6 DF Kassey Kallman 170170
12 DF Morgan Proffitt 3030
22 DF Alyssa Kleiner 180180
Midfielders:
9 MF Havana Solaun 245245
10 MF Estefania Banini 9191
15 MF Joanna Lohman 1010
16 MF Cameron Castleberry 2020
19 MF Kristie Mewis 8282
23 MF Tori Huster 200200
24 MF Estelle Johnson 202202
29 MF Megan Dougherty Howard 231231
Forwards:
2 FW Arielle Ship 141141
7 FW Line Jensen 9191
8 FW Lindsay Agnew 8080
11 FW Mallory Pugh 166166
12 FW Katie Stengel 5050
13 FW Crystal Thomas 1010
14 FW Francisca Ordega 144144
17 FW Cali Farquharson 100100
20 FW Cheyna Williams 215215
27 FW Yanara Aedo 0000

Italics indicates player left team midway through season.

Goalkeeper Stats

Last updated: October 1 2017

No. Nat Player National Women's Soccer League
GP GS MIN W L D GA GAA CS
1 Stephanie Labbe 171715304103301.762
18 Kelsey Wys 00000000.000
21 DiDi Haracic 77630151182.570

Transfers

In
Date Player Number Position Previous Club Fee/Notes
November 17, 2016 Kristie Mewis19MF Boston BreakersTrade[8]
November 17, 2016 Kassey Kallman6DF Boston BreakersTrade[8]
December 21, 2016 Havana Solaun9MF Seattle Reign FCTrade for Rights, Signed[9][10]
February 10, 2017 DiDi Haracic21GK Washington Spirit ReservesSigned[11]
March 10, 2017 Lindsay Agnew8FW Ohio State2017 Draft Pick[12]
March 10, 2017 Megan Dougherty Howard29MF Florida2017 Draft Pick[12]
April 5, 2017 Arielle Ship2FW California2017 Draft Pick[13]
April 5, 2017 Cameron Castleberry16MF North Carolina2017 Draft Pick[13]
April 27, 2017 Crystal Thomas13FW Georgetown UniversitySigned[14]
May 13, 2017 Mallory Pugh11FW UCLASigned via Distribution Ranking Order[15]
June 19, 2017 Estefanía Banini10FW Valencia Féminas CFSigned pending international transfer certificate[16]
June 27, 2017 Yanara Aedo27FW Valencia Féminas CFSigned pending international transfer certificate[17]
August 23, 2017 Morgan Proffitt12MF Chicago Red StarsSigned after waived[18]

Out
Date Player Number Position New Club Fee/Notes
October 18, 2016 Estefanía Banini10MF Valencia Féminas CFFree[19]
October 19, 2016 Laura del Rio57FWWaived[20]
November 2, 2016 Ali Krieger11DF Orlando PrideTrade[21]
November 17, 2016 Megan Oyster4DF Boston BreakersTrade[8]
April 22, 2016 Christine Nairn7MF Seattle Reign FCTrade[9]
January 2, 2017 Crystal Dunn19FW Chelsea L.F.C.Free[22]
January 23, 2017 Diana Matheson8MF Seattle Reign FCTrade[23]
May 19, 2017 Crystal Thomas13FWWaived[24]
June 28, 2017 Katie Stengel12FW Boston BreakersWaived[25]
June 28, 2017 Cameron Castleberry16MFWaived[25]
August 21, 2017 Kristie Mewis19FW Chicago Red StarsTrade for 2018 First Round Draft Pick[26]

Honors and awards

NWSL Team of the Month
Month Goalkeeper Defenders Midfielders Forwards Ref.
April Stephanie Labbé Estelle Johnson [27]
June Stephanie Labbé Estelle Johnson [28]

NWSL Weekly Awards

NWSL Player of the Week
Week Result Player Ref.
4 Won Francisca Ordega [29]
15 Won Arielle Ship [30]
20 Won Whitney Church [31]

NWSL Save of the Week
Week Result Player Ref.
11 Won Stephanie Labbé [32]
20 Won DiDi Haracic
Whitney Church		 [33]

See also

References
  1. Emily Kesel (October 24, 2017). "2017 NWSL season review: Washington Spirit". Vavel. Retrieved January 14, 2018.
  2. "Washington Spirit acquires U.S. Women's National Team forward Mallory Pugh". washingtonspirit.com. May 13, 2017. Retrieved May 14, 2017.
  3. Emily Kesel (October 24, 2017). "2017 NWSL season review: Washington Spirit". vavel.com. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  4. "Washington Spirit". washingtonspirit.com. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
  5. "Washington Spirit Preseason Schedule Features First Ever Game in Virginia". nwslsoccer.com. February 2, 2017. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  6. "Washington Spirit's NWSL playoff hopes extinguished after 2-1 loss to Chicago Red Stars". Black and Red United. August 27, 2017. Retrieved September 30, 2017.
  7. "2017 NWSL Season Stats". soccerway.com. Retrieved October 1, 2017.
  8. "Washington Spirit Acquires Kristie Mewis, Kassey Kallman, and No. 1 Spot in the Distribution Ranking Order from Boston Breakers". washingtonspirit.com. November 17, 2016. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  9. "Washington Spirit Acquires Havana Solaun, Three Draft Picks from Seattle Reign FC for Christine Nairn". washingtonspirit.com. November 10, 2016. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  10. "Washington Spirit Signs Midfielder Havana Solaun". washingtonspirit.com. December 21, 2016. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  11. "Washington Spirit Signs Goalkeeper DiDi Haracic". washingtonspirit.com. February 10, 2017. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  12. "Spirit signs 2017 NWSL College Draft picks Lindsay Agnew and Meggie Dougherty Howard". washingtonspirit.com. March 10, 2017. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  13. "Washington Spirit officially signs rookies Arielle Ship and Cameron Castleberry". washingtonspirit.com. April 5, 2017. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  14. "Washington Spirit signs forward Crystal Thomas". washingtonspirit.com. April 27, 2017. Retrieved May 22, 2017.
  15. "Washington Spirit acquires U.S. Women's National Team forward Mallory Pugh". washingtonspirit.com. May 13, 2017. Retrieved May 14, 2017.
  16. Lombardo, Kayla (June 19, 2017). "Washington Spirit sign Argentine international forward Estefanía Banini". www.excellesports.com. Excelle Sports. Archived from the original on October 5, 2017. Retrieved June 19, 2017. The Spirit's announcement lists her as a forward, while the team roster lists her as a midfielder.
  17. Blakely, Chris (June 27, 2017). "Washington Spirit announce the signing of Yanara Aedo". Vavel. Retrieved June 27, 2017.
  18. "Washington Spirit claims midfielder Morgan Proffitt off NWSL waivers". August 23, 2017. Retrieved August 25, 2017.
  19. Caitlin Buckley (October 18, 2016). "It looks like Estefania Banini has left the Washington Spirit for Valencia CF". BlackandRedUnited.com. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  20. Caitlin Buckley (October 19, 2016). "Washington Spirit waive Laura del Rio, Estefania Banini still might return". BlackandRedUnited.com. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  21. "Washington Spirit Defender Ali Krieger Traded to Orlando Pride". washingtonspirit.com. November 2, 2016. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  22. "Washington Spirit Forward Crystal Dunn to Play for Chelsea Ladies FC". washingtonspirit.com. January 3, 2017. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  23. Steven Goff (January 23, 2017). "Washington Spirit trades Diana Matheson to Seattle Reign". Washington Post. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  24. "Washington Spirit waives forward Crystal Thomas". Washington Spirit. May 19, 2017. Retrieved May 22, 2017.
  25. "Washington Spirit waives Katie Stengel and Cameron Castleberry". Washington Spirit. June 28, 2017. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  26. "Washington Spirit trades Mewis to Chicago for 2018 NWSL College Draft first round pick". Washington Spirit. August 21, 2017. Retrieved September 30, 2017.
  27. "April Team of the Month announced". NWSL. 4 May 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
  28. Linehan, Meg (30 June 2017). "June Team of the Month announced". NWSL. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  29. Purdy, Jacqueline. "Francisca Ordega named Player of the Week". NWSL. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  30. "Best of 2017: Players of the Week". National Women's Soccer League. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  31. "Best of 2017: Players of the Week". National Women's Soccer League. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  32. "Save of the Week: Stephanie Labbé". National Women's Soccer League. July 5, 2017. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
  33. "Save of the Week: DiDi Haracic and Whitney Church". September 12, 2017. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
Match reports (preseason)
  1. "Washington Spirit Opens Preseason with 3–0 Win over Penn State University". washingtonspirit.com. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  2. "Washington Spirit Stays Undefeated in Preseason with 5–0 Win over UNC". washingtonspirit.com. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  3. "Washington Spirit continues undefeated preseason with win over Duke University". washingtonspirit.com. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  4. "Washington Spirit shuts out UVA 2–0, completing undefeated preseason". washingtonspirit.com. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
Match reports (regular season)
  1. "Washington Spirit drops 1–0 decision to NC Courage in season opener". washingtonspirit.com. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
Notes
  1. Washington Spirit's position in the league at the end of match day
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