**Leesburg, Virginia** – The Washington Spirit and Racing Louisville FC squared off in an exciting encounter at Segra Field that saw the visitors Louisville erase a two-goal deficit to come back and secure a draw with the Spirit thanks to a late equalizer.
The first great look on goal for the Spirit actually resulted in them putting the ball in the back of the net in the 22 ^nd minute. Following a move just a minute earlier, the home crowd looked on as forward Trinity Rodman headed a ball in down across goal for teammate Emily Sonnett just a yard out from goal. Sonnett then bundled the ball over the line and celebrations ensued, though the flag would go up for offside as the goal was canceled out.
However, it wouldn’t take long for Washington build on that move as they opened the game’s scoring in the 34 ^th minute through forward Trinity Rodman. Teammate Ashley Sanchez collected the ball inside her own half and split the defense with a well-weighted through pass on the ground for Rodman, who was sprinting toward the opposition penalty area. Taking stride into the box, Rodman produced a calm finish with her right foot past Louisville goalkeeper Katie Lund for just her second goal of the season.
Continuing to pile on the pressure, Washington would then double its lead in the 43 ^rd minute when midfielder Madison Elwell scored her first goal of the season in her eighth appearance. Moments prior, teammate Camryn Biegalski had lifted a long ball into the box for forward Ashley Hatch. Hatch then produced a headed effort that forced a good save from Lund, though the goalkeeper was unable to properly parry the ball away and Elwell slammed home the rebound for the late first half tally.
In the closing minutes of the first half, Louisville forward Jaelin Howell saw a headed chance miss from close in while Washington’s Andi Sullivan hit the post seconds later, though the score remained 2-0 in favor of the Spirit at the break.
Just past the hour mark, though, the visitors Louisville were able to pull one back as forward Nadia Nadim scored in her second straight game to provide her side a lifeline. Attacker Jessica McDonald was in possession in midfield and spotted the forward run of Nadim in between defenders. Nadim then took the ball into the box and put a right-footed effort to the right of Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury and the lead was cut in half.
Racing Louisville continued to try and work their way back to equal footing, but the Spirit seemed to continue to be able to shut those attempts down. In the 88 ^th minute, midfielder Savannah DeMelo was denied by Kingsbury close in with Washington feeling like a win was within sight. However, one minute later, it was again McDonald who again picked out Nadim with a cross into the box that the Doctor buried with her header that floated past Kingsbury to bring the match level late on.
From there, the wind had come out of Washington’s sails though Louisville was unable to push for a late winner with little time left to play. In the end, Washington will feel hard done by not to claim a victory but the visitors late efforts saw them escape with an impressive point at Segra Field.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights