NWSL roundup: Esther Gonzalez scores twice, Gotham shut out Spirit

Esther Gonzalez tallied twice in the first half, Sarah Schupansky also scored and NJ/NY Gotham FC shut out the host Washington Spirit 3-0 on Saturday afternoon.

Gotham FC (3-2-2, 11 points) got going quickly, as Lilly Reale found Schupansky in the center of the box, who then converted with a right-footed strike for a 1-0 lead just three minutes into the game.

Washington goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury, who was under assault much of the day, found her footing, turning away multiple attempts as she matched Gotham's Ann-Katrin Berger in pitching a shutout for the next 29 minutes.

Kingsbury finished with four saves, while Berger had three saves in earning the shutout win.

Gotham finally broke through for a second goal when Gonzalez converted a penalty kick to the bottom right corner.

Then, in the 39th minute, Gonzalez knocked home a header on an assist from Schupansky on a cross following a corner.

Neither team could tally in the second half, as Washington (4-0-2, 12 points) finished with just three shots on goal.

Courage 3, Current 2

Kaleigh Kurtz tied the game in the 90th minute, Ashley Sanchez put away the winner three minutes into stoppage time and North Carolina stunned Kansas City in Cary, N.C.

The late turnaround marked the first win of the year for the Courage (1-3-2, 5 points) and the first blemish of the campaign for the Current (5-1-0, 15 points).

Kansas City led 1-0 and 2-1 before Kurtz, a defender, sent a shot past the unsuspecting goalkeeper while the Courage were on the offensive. Then Sanchez threaded a shot between defenders and inside the far post for North Carolina's first and only lead.

Ryan Williams also scored for the Courage. Haley Hopkins and Bia Zaneratto provided the Current's goals.

Wave 3, Stars 0

Hanna Lundkvist and Kimmi Ascanio found the back of the net and Kailen Sheridan made four saves as San Diego shut out Chicago in Bridgeview, Ill.

Lundkvist's goal for the Wave (3-2-1, 10 points) came in the 31st minute off a failed clearance attempt by the Stars (1-5-0, 3 points). The ball landed right at Lundkvist's feet, and she rocketed in a one-timer past a diving Alyssa Naeher (three saves).

The margin doubled when Sam Staab committed an own goal in the 81st minute. Then, the 17-year-old Ascanio scored her first career NWSL goal in the third minute of second-half stoppage.

--Field Level Media