**WASHINGTON, D.C.** – The Orlando Pride produced a dominating 3-0 win on the road against the Washington Spirit on Saturday night, with a brace from forward Julie Doyle in the opening 16 minutes added to by a Spirit own goal just after the hour mark. The win was Orlando’s first in three games, while Washington have now dropped two straight.
The Pride were first to jump ahead early on, with forward Julie Doyle finding the back of the net after just eight minutes. A throw-in routine allowed for Haley McCutcheon to work the ball into the box, and as her shot toward the Washington goal was blocked, Doyle was there to smash home the rebound and push the visitors in front.
Then, just eight minutes later, Doyle earned her brace after an awkward cross from the left side of the field found its way all the way through the penalty area and into the bottom far corner. Doyle had been played down the left when she cut inside onto her right foot and curled the semi-cross into the area, and Orlando was able to add to their cushion as a second goal put them two-up on the road.
After a brief chance for Washington at the other end, Orlando persisted through defender Kerry Abello, who had a right-footed shot in the left side of the box saved by Spirit goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart. Abello had somehow squeezed an angle for her shot, but even though it sailed through all parties in the middle, Barnhart was able to push it over the bar and out of play for a corner.
The final chance of the first half came for forward Julie Doyle again, and she nearly added a hat-trick to her spectacular first half as she headed just wide of the near post in the 41 ^st minute. McCutcheon had found herself in space on the right side when she saw Doyle at the back post. Lifting her cross all the way over and through, Doyle was able to latch onto the ball in but could not redirect it on frame.
Instead, the Pride carried a big 2-0 lead into the halftime break.
The second half required more of the Spirit, and they began to attempt a comeback in the 57 ^th minute with a chance for Ashley Hatch. A turnover in the Orlando defense allowed Hatch to pick up the ball just a few yards outside the 18-yard box and move forward. Cutting around the defense, Hatch was able to open her right foot and shoot, but her effort screwed high and wide of the goal as a great chance for Washington fell flat.
Instead, Orlando was able to add a third goal on the evening as attacker Ally Watt forced a Washington own goal in the 61 ^st minute to all but secure the three points. Watt was played down the left where she cut into the penalty area and fired a left-footed shot toward the near post, but a deflection off a Washington player ended up turning the ball into the back of her own net as the Pride held a commanding 3-0 lead.
Washington would force Orlando goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse into two saves in the 82 ^nd and 90 ^th minutes, but the Pride would preserve their clean sheet despite the Spirit’s best efforts. In the 82 ^nd minute, Kuhlmann tested Moorhouse with a high shot toward the center of the box, and Hatch’s header in the fourth minute of added time was also collected by Moorhouse in the end.
At the sound of the fulltime whistle, Orlando was confirmed a resounding 3-0 win on the road against the Spirit, a result which leaves them in 9 ^th place with 16 points from 14 games played. Meanwhile, the Spirit remained in 4 ^th place with 23 points from 14 games played.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights