Spirit blank Dash to stay on pace in NWSL Shield race

Ashley Hatch and Trinity Rodman led the Washington Spirit over the visiting Houston Dash 3-0 Sunday.

The Spirit (14-4-2, 44 points) had no problems defeating Houston (3-12-5, 14 points) even without leading goal scorer Ouleymata Sarr. Instead, Hatch scored twice and Rodman had a goal and an assist to extend Washington's unbeaten streak to five matches.

In the 46th minute, already up 2-0, Rodman spun around a defender, sustained defensive pressure as she moved towards the 18-yard box and shot into the top right corner of the net, squashing any hope Houston had for a second-half comeback.

During the first half, Rodman created by running down the left wing and sending a fast cross in front of goal. Hatch leapt to put her right leg through the ball and into the back of the net.

That was the second goal for Hatch in the contest, with a penalty shot coming in the seventh minute after a VAR review. On a cross into the 18-yard box, Allysha Chapman's arm hit the ball as it approached her behind her back. After initially going out for a corner, the VAR review room requested an on-field review. It was called a penalty and Hatch sent a shot into the bottom-left corner of the net.

Hatch's penalty is the 10th of her career, and the only player in NWSL history to make every penalty kick attempted with at least 10 attempts.

With six matches to go, the Spirit are four points back of the Orlando Pride in the NWSL Shield race, with the two sides facing off on Oct. 6. For Houston, the defeat is its sixth in a row.

--Field Level Media