Washington Spirit
2014 season
General managerChris Hummer
Head coachMark Parsons
StadiumMaryland SoccerPlex
NWSL4th
NWSL PlayoffsSemi-finals
Top goalscorerLeague: Jodie Taylor (11)
All: Jodie Taylor (11)
Highest home attendance4,667 (May 3, 2014 vs Seattle)
Lowest home attendance2,306 (April 13, 2014 vs WNY Flash)
Average home league attendance3,335
← 2013
2015 →

The 2014 season was Washington Spirit's second season of existence in which they competed in the National Women's Soccer League, the top division of women's soccer in the United States.

Review

Coming off a tough inaugural season, the Spirit looked to build a contending team for the 2014 season. Mark Parsons had a full preseason to work with his team and made some key offseason acquisitions included Jodie Taylor and Christine Nairn, both who would finish as the team's tops scorers with 11 and 8 goals, respectively.

The beginning of the season saw similar struggles to 2013, losing 4 of the opening 6 matches. The turn-around began in Week 7, when the Spirit would outscore the Western New York Flash 3–2 with a brace from Jodie Taylor and own goal equalizer. The Spirit went 5 matches unbeaten mid-season and finished the season strong, losing only two of their last ten matches.

Finishing 4th, the Spirit made their first NWSL Playoff appearance. They ultimately lost at Seattle Reign in a 2–1 match with Verónica Pérez scoring the Spirit's first ever playoff goal in the 65th minute.

Club

Roster

As of April 24, 2014:[1] 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 United States USA Ashlyn Harris (FP)
2 FW United States USA Colleen Williams
3 DF United States USA Toni Pressley
4 MF United States USA Yael Averbuch (FP)
5 DF Canada CAN Robyn Gayle (FP)
6 MF United States USA Lori Lindsey
7 MF United States USA Christine Nairn
8 MF Canada CAN Diana Matheson (FP)
9 FW Mexico MEX Renae Cuellar (FP)
10 FW United States USA Caroline Miller
11 DF United States USA Ali Krieger (FP)
12 DF Denmark DEN Cecilie Sandvej
No. Pos. Nation Player
14 FW England ENG Jodie Taylor
16 FW United States USA Tiffany Weimer
17 MF Mexico MEX Verónica Pérez
18 GK United States USA Chantel Jones
19 MF United States USA Crystal Dunn
21 GK United States USA Adelaide Gay
22 MF Mexico MEX Bianca Sierra
23 DF United States USA Tori Huster
24 FW United States USA Jasmyne Spencer
28 DF United States USA Jordan Angeli
99 FW United States USA Danesha Adams

Team management

Owner Bill Lynch
General Manager Chris Hummer
Head Coach Mark Parsons

Competitions

Preseason

March 22, 2014 1 Washington Spirit 2–0 North Carolina Tar Heels Boyds, Maryland
Matheson 69'
Weimer 89'		 Report Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
Attendance: 2,534
March 29, 2014 2 Washington Spirit 1–1 Virginia Cavaliers Boyds, Maryland
Pressley 38' Report Alexis Shaffer 10' Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
April 5, 2014 3 Washington Spirit 7–0 Maryland Terrapins Boyds, Maryland
Taylor 15' 71' 90'
Gayle 20'
Dunn 30'
Matheson 32'
Averbuch 82'		 Report Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex

Regular season

April 13, 2014 1 Washington Spirit 1–3 Western New York Flash Boyds, Maryland
18:30 EST Barczuk 50' Report Losada 54' 67'
Taylor 54'		 Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
Attendance: 2,306
Referee: Miguel Panduro
April 19, 2014 2 Washington Spirit 3–1 FC Kansas City Boyds, Maryland
19:00 EST Matheson 4' 38'
Nairn 45'		 Report Rodriguez 29' Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
Attendance: 2,577
Referee: Matthew Franz
April 23, 2014 3 Seattle Reign FC 3–1 Washington Spirit Seattle, Washington
19:00 (PDT) Fletcher 3'
Winters 48'
Fishlock 80'		 Report Matheson 73' (pen.) Stadium: Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 1,754
Referee: Josh Wilkens
Apr 26, 2014 4 Chicago Red Stars 0–1 Washington Spirit Lisle, Illinois
20:00 Johnston Yellow card 67' Box Score Huster 50'
Sierra Yellow card 55'
Dunn Yellow card 70'
Matheson Yellow card 71'		 Stadium: Benedictine U. Sports Complex Stadium
Attendance: 1,822
May 3, 2014 5 Washington Spirit 1–2 Seattle Reign FC Boyds, Maryland
18:30 Krieger 53' Box Score Fishlock 55'
Leroux 76'		 Stadium: Maureen Hendricks Field Maryland SoccerPlex
Attendance: 4,667
Referee: Elvis Mahmutovic
May 11, 2014 6 FC Kansas City 2–1 Washington Spirit Kansas City, Missouri
19:00 Rodriguez 35', 64' Box Score Gayle Yellow card 50'
Adams 63'		 Stadium: Durwood Soccer Stadium
Attendance: 1,797
Referee: Matt Mercier
May 17, 2014 7 Washington Spirit 3–2 Western New York Flash Boyds, Maryland
18:30 Taylor 11', 78'
Williamson 71' (o.g.)		 Box Score Wambach 18'
Lloyd 30'
Salem Yellow card 75' Yellow-red card 90+5'		 Stadium: Maureen Hendricks Field Maryland SoccerPlex
Attendance: 4,598
Referee: Katja Koroleva
May 21, 2014 8 Washington Spirit 3–3 Sky Blue FC Boyds, Maryland
19:00 Gayle 38'
Lindsey 74'
Matheson 90+2' (pen.)		 Box Score Filigno 47' Yellow card 55'
Freels 51'
O'Hara 65'		 Stadium: Maureen Hendricks Field Maryland SoccerPlex
Attendance: 2,545
Referee: Boris Senic
May 26, 2014 9 Washington Spirit 3–2 Houston Dash Boyds, Maryland
16:00 Matheson 4'
Taylor 38'
Nairn 90+3'		 Box Score Burger 12'
Ohale 77'		 Stadium: Maureen Hendricks Field Maryland SoccerPlex
Attendance: 2,865
Referee: Matthew Franz
Jun 1, 2014 10 Boston Breakers 2–3 Washington Spirit Boston, Massachusetts
18:30 Sanderson 29', 37' Box Score Nairn 33'
Taylor 49', 74'		 Stadium: Harvard Stadium
Attendance: 2,876
Referee: Karen Abt
June 4, 2014 11 Chicago Red Stars 0-1 Washington Spirit Lisle, Illinois
19:00 CDT (UTC−05) Morway Yellow card 40' Summary Gayle Yellow card 27'
Taylor 79'
Pérez Yellow card 90'		 Stadium: Village of Lisle-Benedictine University Sports Complex
Attendance: 1450
Referee: United States Josh Wilkens
Jun 11, 2014 12 Boston Breakers 2–0 Washington Spirit Boston, Massachusetts
19:00 Schoepfer 42'
Jones 43'		 Box Score Adams Yellow card 60' Stadium: Harvard Stadium
Attendance: 1,429
Referee: Timon Berry
Jun 15, 2014 13 Portland Thorns FC 2–0 Washington Spirit Portland, Oregon
17:00 McDonald 11'
Boquete 78'		 Box Score Angeli Yellow card 45+2' Red card 86' Stadium: Providence Park
Attendance: 10,056
Referee: Michael Zapata
Jun 21, 2014 14 Washington Spirit 1–6 Portland Thorns FC Boyds, Maryland
18:30 Gayle Yellow card 9'
Nairn 62'		 Box Score Sinclair 5'
Morgan 11', 70'
Brooks Yellow card 59'
McDonald 85' (87)
Menges Yellow card 88'
Long 90+1'		 Stadium: Maureen Hendricks Field Maryland SoccerPlex
Attendance: 3,806
Referee: Kristen Salazar
Jun 28, 2014 15 Houston Dash 0–1 Washington Spirit Houston, Texas
21:00 Box score Taylor 62' Stadium: BBVA Compass Stadium
Attendance: 4,050
Referee: Maraget Domka
Jul 2, 2014 16 Washington Spirit 3–3 Boston Breakers Boyds, Maryland
19:00 Taylor 28' (56)
De Vanna Yellow card 30'
Krieger Yellow card 87'
Matheson 90+1' (pen.)		 Box Score O'Reilly 4' (pen.), 7' (pen.) Yellow card 19'
Reeves 44'
Lohman Yellow card 45+1'
Evans Red card 70'
Sierra Yellow card 90'		 Stadium: Maureen Hendricks Field Maryland SoccerPlex
Attendance: 2,673
Referee: Dimitar Chavdarov
Jul 12, 2014 17 Western New York Flash 0–1 Washington Spirit Rochester, New York
19:00 Reynolds Red card 54' Box Score Taylor Yellow card 52'
Matheson 56' (pen.)
Nairn Yellow card 73'		 Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium
Attendance: 3,134
Referee: Chris Spivey
Jul 17, 2014 18 Houston Dash 1–1 Washington Spirit Houston, Texas
21:00 Diggs 74' Box Score De Vanna 19' Stadium: BBVA Compass Stadium
Attendance: 3,561
Referee: Michael Zapata
Jul 20, 2014 19 Sky Blue FC 4–2 Washington Spirit Piscataway, New Jersey
18:00 O'Hara 22', 85'
Schmidt 36'
Nadim 81'		 Box Score Gayle Yellow card 57' 89'
Taylor 88'		 Stadium: Yurcak Field
Attendance: 1,740
Referee: Bernhard Hosu
Jul 23, 2014 20 Washington Spirit 1–1 Portland Thorns FC Boyds, Maryland
19:00 Taylor 68' Box Score Morgan 7' Stadium: Maureen Hendricks Field Maryland SoccerPlex
Attendance: 3,854
Referee: Katja Koroleva
Jul 30, 2014 21 Washington Spirit 2–1 FC Kansas City Boyds, Maryland
19:00 Garefrekes 49'
Nairn 67'		 Box Score Sauerbrunn 18' Stadium: Maureen Hendricks Field Maryland SoccerPlex
Attendance: 2,744
Referee: Kristen Salazar
August 2, 2014 (2014-08-02) 22 Washington Spirit 2–1 Chicago Red Stars Boyds, Maryland
18:30 EDT (UTC−04) Nairn 47' Yellow card 82'
Averbuch 90+4'		 Box Score Chalupny 3'
Hoy Yellow card 28'
Santacaterina Yellow card 30'		 Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
Attendance: 3,102
Referee: Chris Spivey
Aug 9, 2014 23 Seattle Reign FC 1–1 Washington Spirit Seattle, Washington
22:00 Reed Yellow card 16'
Little 89'
Fishlock Yellow card 90'		 http://us.women.soccerway.com/matches/2014/08/10/united-states/national-womens-soccer-league/seattle-reign/washington-spirit/1648595/ Box Score] Matheson 29' Stadium: Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 3,479
Referee: United States Elvis Mahmutovic
Aug 16, 2014 24 Washington Spirit 0–1 Sky Blue FC Boyds, Maryland
18:30 Box Score Ocampo 27' Stadium: Maureen Hendricks Field Maryland SoccerPlex
Attendance: 4,282
Referee: David Mon

Regular-season standings

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Seattle Reign FC 24 16 6 2 50 20 +30 54 NWSL Shield
2 FC Kansas City (C) 24 12 5 7 39 32 +7 41 NWSL Playoffs
3 Portland Thorns FC 24 10 6 8 39 35 +4 36
4 Washington Spirit 24 10 5 9 36 43 −7 35
5 Chicago Red Stars 24 9 8 7 32 26 +6 35
6 Sky Blue FC 24 9 7 8 30 37 −7 34
7 Western New York Flash 24 8 4 12 42 38 +4 28
8 Boston Breakers 24 6 2 16 37 53 −16 20
9 Houston Dash 24 5 3 16 23 44 −21 18
Source: NWSL
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(C) Champions

Results summary

Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
24 10 5 9 36 43  −7 35 5 3 4 23 26  −3 5 2 5 13 17  −4

Last updated: August 16, 2014.
Source: Match reports

Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324
StadiumHHAAHAHHHAAAAHAHAAAHHHAH
ResultLWLWLLWDWWWLLLWDWDLDWWDL
Updated to match(es) played on August 16, 2014. Source: Match reports
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

NWSL Playoffs

August 23, 2014 Semi-finals Seattle Reign FC 2–1 Washington Spirit Seattle, Washington
8:00 pm PDT Little 72'
Rapinoe 82'
Fletcher Yellow card 90+5'		 Report Averbuch Yellow card 31'
Pérez 65'
Nairn Yellow card 90+2'		 Stadium: Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 4,540
Referee: Timon Berry

Squad statistics

Note: only regular season squad statistics displayed.

Key to positions: FW – Forward, MF – Midfielder, DF – Defender, GK – Goalkeeper

N Pos Player GP GS Min G A WG Shot SOG Cro CK Off Foul FS YC RC
99 FW Danesha Adams 13 9 802 1 1 0 8 4 3 6 1 10 7 1 0
28 MF Jordan Angeli 10 2 235 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 6 0 1 1
4 MF Yael Averbuch 22 17 1562 1 1 1 15 4 0 0 0 16 9 1 0
12 DF Niki Cross 10 8 740 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 5 5 0 0
9 FW Renae Cuellar 10 4 408 0 0 0 4 1 2 0 6 4 3 0 0
24 FW Lisa De Vanna 11 9 794 1 4 0 16 9 0 0 12 6 13 1 0
19 MF Crystal Dunn 21 18 1488 0 3 0 11 6 2 0 2 15 10 1 0
13 FW Kerstin Garefrekes 10 6 591 1 0 0 19 11 0 0 4 8 6 0 0
5 DF Robyn Gayle 16 13 1143 2 1 0 7 3 1 0 0 13 2 4 0
23 DF Tori Huster 22 22 1980 1 1 1 9 4 0 0 0 12 17 0 0
11 DF Ali Krieger 22 22 1935 1 0 0 5 3 3 0 1 7 4 1 0
6 MF Lori Lindsey 22 19 1509 1 1 0 15 6 0 0 0 6 9 0 0
8 MF Diana Matheson 23 21 1970 8 6 2 28 19 5 18 6 14 24 2 0
7 MF Christine Nairn 23 21 1838 6 2 2 41 18 0 52 4 7 27 2 0
36 MF Kelsey Pardue 1 0 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
17 MF Verónica Pérez 16 6 657 0 1 0 8 3 0 0 8 16 8 1 0
3 DF Toni Pressley 9 8 701 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 9 1 0 0
22 DF Bianca Sierra 9 5 520 0 0 0 2 1 2 0 0 6 2 1 0
21 DF Alex Singer 11 11 972 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 4 11 3 0 0
31 MF Jennifer Skogerboe 1 0 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
14 FW Jodie Taylor 21 19 1727 11 2 4 46 26 2 0 34 25 13 1 0
N Pos Goal keeper GP GS Min W L T Shot SOG Sav GA GA/G Pen PKF SO
1 GK Ashlyn Harris 19 19 1710 10 5 4 193 97 66 31 1.632 2 3 4
18 GK Chantel Jones 5 5 450 0 4 1 78 34 22 12 2.4 0 0 0

Transfers

In

No. Pos. Player Transferred from Fee/notes Date Source
7 MF United States Christine Nairn United States Seattle Reign Trade November 20, 2013 [2]
14 FW England Jodie Taylor Australia Sydney FC Signed December 18, 2013 [3]
4 MF United States Yael Averbuch Sweden Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC NWSL Player Allocation January 3, 2014 [4]
9 FW Mexico Renae Cuéllar United States FC Kansas City NWSL Player Allocation January 3, 2014 [5]
99 FW United States Danesha Adams United States Houston Dash Trade January 13, 2014 [6]
16 FW United States Tiffany Weimer United States Portland Thorns FC Trade January 17, 2014 [7]
12 DF Denmark Cecilie Sandvej Australia Perth Glory Signed February 27, 2014 [8]
17 MF Mexico Verónica Pérez United States Western New York Flash Trade March 3, 2014 [9]
12 DF Germany Niki Cross Germany FC Bayern Munich Trade March 18, 2014 [10]
22 MF Mexico Bianca Sierra United States University of Auburn Signed April 4, 2014 [11]
28 DF United States Jordan Angeli United States Boston Breakers Signed April 4, 2014 [11]
21 GK United States Adelaide Gay United States Portland Thorns FC Signed April 8, 2014 [12]
21 DF United States Alex Singer Germany 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam Signed June 4, 2014 [13]
24 FW Australia Lisa De Vanna United States Boston Breakers Trade June 18, 2014 [14]
31 MF United States Jennifer Skogerboe United States Washington Spirit Reserves
36 MF United States Kelsey Pardue United States Washington Spirit Reserves

Out

No. Pos. Player Transferred to Fee/notes Date Source
3 DF United States Kika Toulouse United States Houston Dash 2014 NWSL Expansion Draft January 10, 2014 [15]
14 FW United States Tiffany McCarty United States Houston Dash 2014 NWSL Expansion Draft January 10, 2014 [15]
22 MF United States Stephanie Ochs United States Houston Dash Trade January 13, 2014 [16]
4 DF United States Marisa Abegg Retired February 14, 2014 [17]
5 DF Canada Candace Chapman Waived March 29, 2014 [18]
20 MF United States Holly King United States Colorado Pride March 29, 2014 [19]
2 FW United States Colleen Williams Waived May 21, 2014 [20]
23 DF Mexico Bianca Sierra United States Boston Breakers Trade June 18, 2014 [14]
MF United States Ingrid Wells United States Western New York Flash Waived June 20, 2013 [21]
DF United States Domenica Hodak
13 MF Mexico Guadalupe Worbis
24 FW United States Jasmyne Spencer United States Western New York Flash [22]
13 MF United States Julia Roberts
17 FW United States Lindsay Taylor

Loan in

No. Pos. Player Loaned from Fee/notes Date Source
13 MF Germany Kerstin Garefrekes Germany 1. FFC Frankfurt Loan for remainder of 2014 season June 14, 2014 [23]

Honors and awards

NWSL Yearly Awards

NWSL Team of the Year

Team Position Player Ref.
Best XI Defender United States Ali Krieger [24]
Second X1 Forward England Jodie Taylor [24]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Roster". Washington Spirit. February 7, 2014. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
  2. ^ "Reign Add Arsenal Star Midfielder Kim Little". Sounder at Heart. November 20, 2013. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  3. ^ "Jodie Taylor joins the Spirit for 2014 NWSL season & earns England National Team Call up". Washington Spirit. December 18, 2013. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  4. ^ Steven Goff (January 3, 2014). "Washington Spirit acquires Yael Averbuch". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  5. ^ "NWSL announces 2014 allocated players: KC, Portland, Seattle look stacked". SoccerWire.com. January 3, 2014. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  6. ^ "Houston Dash acquire forward Stephanie Ochs from Washington Spirit". Washington Spirit. January 13, 2014. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  7. ^ "Portland Thorns reacquire Meleana Shim and shake up roster at NWSL College Draft". OregonLive.com. January 17, 2014. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  8. ^ "Spirit sign Danish defender Cecilie Sandvej". SoccerWire.com. February 27, 2014. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  9. ^ Meg Linehan (March 3, 2014). "De Vanna, Perez find new homes during trade flurry". OregonLive.com. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  10. ^ "Spirit acquire FC Bayern Munich defender Niki Cross via trade with Seattle Reign FC". Washington Spirit. March 18, 2014. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  11. ^ a b "Washington Spirit Sign Midfielder Jordan Angeli and Mexican Women's National Team Defender Bianca Sierra". Washington Spirit. April 4, 2014. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  12. ^ "Washington Spirit announces official 2014 NWSL roster". Women's Soccer United. April 8, 2014. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  13. ^ "Spirit Sign Defender Alex Singer". The Bent Musket. June 4, 2014. Archived from the original on July 2, 2014. Retrieved May 5, 2017.((cite web)): CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  14. ^ a b "Breakers Transfers 2014: Boston Trades Lisa De Vanna to Spirit for Defender Bianca Sierra". The Bent Musket. June 18, 2014. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  15. ^ a b "Houston Dash select 10 players in 2014 NWSL Expansion Draft". Houston Dynamo. January 10, 2014. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  16. ^ "Houston Dash acquire forward Stephanie Ochs from Washington Spirit". Houston Dynamo. January 13, 2014. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  17. ^ "Marisa Abegg announces her retirement". Washington Spirit. February 14, 2014. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  18. ^ "The Washington Spirit Waive Defender Candace Chapman". Washington Spirit. March 29, 2014. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  19. ^ Joe Paisley (May 19, 2014). "Colorado Pride women's soccer team kicks off first season Thursday at Colorado College". The Gazette. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  20. ^ "Washington Spirit part ways with Colleen Williams". SoccerWire.com. May 21, 2014. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  21. ^ Steven Goff (June 20, 2013). "Wells Waived". Twitter. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  22. ^ "Western New York Flash announces 2014 roster". SoccerWire.com. April 7, 2014. Archived from the original on July 9, 2018. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  23. ^ "Spirit acquire German midfielder Kerstin Garefrekes". Washington Spirit. June 14, 2014. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  24. ^ a b "National Women's Soccer League Announces 2014 Best XI | | Chicago Red Stars". Archived from the original on October 1, 2020. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
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