The Washington Spirit are headed to the National Women’s Soccer League championship game after defeating defending champion Gotham FC on penalty kicks this past Saturday at Audi Field.
The Spirit trailed 1-0 in the final minutes of the semifinal match before midfielder Hal Hershfelt delivered in stoppage time. After 92 minutes, a Hershfelt header found the back of the net to take the game to stoppage time.
Neither team scored in the thirty-minute extra-time period, sending the game to penalty kicks.
Ashley Hatch, Tara McKeown and Lena Silano converted their penalties for the Spirit, while Washington goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury stopped Gotham’s three tries.
“I just wanted to do what I could to help the team win,” Kingsbury said after the game. “We’ve been practicing for these, and just to grind out those 120 minutes, I knew they would come through and make them — and I just did my part.”
With the win, the Spirit will make their first appearance in the championship game since winning the NWSL title in 2021. Washington will face the Orlando Pride, who advanced to the title game by beating the Kansas City Current, 3-2, on Sunda on Barbra Banda’s go-ahead goal.
— This article is based in part on wire service reports.
• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.
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