2014 Washington Spirit season

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.

As of April 24, 2014:{{cite web|title=Roster|date=7 February 2014|url=http://washingtonspirit.com/teams/washington-spirit/|publisher=Washington Spirit|access-date=24 April 2014}}

{{football squad start}}

{{football squad player|no=1|nat=USA|pos=GK|name=Ashlyn Harris}} (FP)

{{football squad player|no=2|nat=USA|pos=FW|name=Colleen Williams}}

{{football squad player|no=3|nat=USA|pos=DF|name=Toni Pressley}}

{{football squad player|no=4|nat=USA|pos=MF|name=Yael Averbuch}} (FP)

{{football squad player|no=5|nat=CAN|pos=DF|name=Robyn Gayle}} (FP)

{{football squad player|no=6|nat=USA|pos=MF|name=Lori Lindsey}}

{{football squad player|no=7|nat=USA|pos=MF|name=Christine Nairn}}

{{football squad player|no=8|nat=CAN|pos=MF|name=Diana Matheson}} (FP)

{{football squad player|no=9|nat=MEX|pos=FW|name=Renae Cuellar}} (FP)

{{football squad player|no=10|nat=USA|pos=FW|name=Caroline Miller}}

{{football squad player|no=11|nat=USA|pos=DF|name=Ali Krieger}} (FP)

{{football squad player|no=12|nat=DEN|pos=DF|name=Cecilie Sandvej}}

{{football squad mid}}

{{football squad player|no=14|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=Jodie Taylor}}

{{football squad player|no=16|nat=USA|pos=FW|name=Tiffany Weimer}}

{{football squad player|no=17|nat=MEX|pos=MF|name=Verónica Pérez}}

{{football squad player|no=18|nat=USA|pos=GK|name=Chantel Jones}}

{{football squad player|no=19|nat=USA|pos=MF|name=Crystal Dunn}}

{{football squad player|no=21|nat=USA|pos=GK|name=Adelaide Gay}}

{{football squad player|no=22|nat=MEX|pos=MF|name=Bianca Sierra}}

{{football squad player|no=23|nat=USA|pos=DF|name=Tori Huster}}

{{football squad player|no=24|nat=USA|pos=FW|name=Jasmyne Spencer}}

{{football squad player|no=28|nat=USA|pos=DF|name=Jordan Angeli}}

{{football squad player|no=99|nat=USA|pos=FW|name=Danesha Adams}}

{{football squad end}}

• (FP) = Federation player

{{football box collapsible

|round= 1

|date= March 22, 2014

|time=

|team1= Washington Spirit

|score= 2–0

|report= [http://washingtonspirit.com/pro/the-washington-spirit-overtake-unc-for-first-preseason-win/ Report]

|team2= North Carolina Tar Heels

|goals1= Matheson {{goal|69}}
Weimer {{goal|89}}

|goals2=

|stadium= Maryland SoccerPlex

|location= Boyds, Maryland

|attendance= 2,534

|referee=

|result= W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round= 2

|date= March 29, 2014

|time=

|team1= Washington Spirit

|score= 1–1

|report= [http://washingtonspirit.com/pro/pressley-goal-leads-spirit-to-1-1-draw-against-uva/ Report]

|team2= Virginia Cavaliers

|goals1= Pressley {{goal|38}}

|goals2= Alexis Shaffer {{goal|10}}

|stadium= Maryland SoccerPlex

|location= Boyds, Maryland

|attendance=

|referee=

|result= D

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round= 3

|date= April 5, 2014

|time=

|team1= Washington Spirit

|score= 7–0

|report= [http://washingtonspirit.com/pro/washington-spirit-shutout-umd-in-charity-match-to-benefit-headers-for-hope/ Report]

|team2= Maryland Terrapins

|goals1= Taylor {{goal|15}}{{goal|71}}{{goal|90}}
Gayle {{goal|20}}
Dunn {{goal|30}}
Matheson {{goal|32}}
Averbuch {{goal|82}}

|goals2=

|stadium= Maryland SoccerPlex

|location= Boyds, Maryland

|attendance=

|referee=

|result= W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|team1= Washington Spirit

|round= 1

|date= April 13, 2014

|time= 18:30 EST

|score= 1–3

|report= [https://web.archive.org/web/20140424212830/http://www.nwslsoccer.com/News/801590.html Report]

|team2= Western New York Flash

|goals1= Barczuk {{goal|50}}

|goals2= Losada {{goal|54}}{{goal|67}}
Taylor {{goal|54}}

|stadium= Maryland SoccerPlex

|location= Boyds, Maryland

|attendance= 2,306

|referee=Miguel Panduro

|result= L

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round= 2

|date= April 19, 2014

|time= 19:00 EST

|team1= Washington Spirit

|score= 3–1

|report= [http://www.nwslsoccer.com/News/803120.html Report]

|team2= FC Kansas City

|goals1= Matheson {{goal|4}}{{goal|38}}
Nairn {{goal|45}}

|goals2= Rodriguez {{goal|29}}

|stadium= Maryland SoccerPlex

|location= Boyds, Maryland

|attendance= 2,577

|referee= Matthew Franz

|result= W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|date = April 23, 2014

|time = 19:00 (PDT)

|round = 3

|team1 = Seattle Reign FC

|score = 3–1

|report = [http://www.nwslsoccer.com/News/804112.html Report]

|team2 = Washington Spirit

|goals1 = Fletcher {{goal|3}}
Winters {{goal|48}}
Fishlock {{goal|80}}

|goals2 = Matheson {{goal|73}} (pen.)

|stadium = Memorial Stadium

|location = Seattle, Washington

|attendance = 1,754

|referee = Josh Wilkens

|result = L

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round =4

|date = Apr 26, 2014

|time = 20:00

|team1 = Chicago Red Stars

|score = 0–1

|report = [http://us.women.soccerway.com/matches/2014/04/27/united-states/national-womens-soccer-league/chicago-red-stars/washington-spirit/1648504/ Box Score]

|team2 = Washington Spirit

|goals1 = Johnston {{yel|67}}

|goals2 = Huster {{goal|50}}
Sierra {{yel|55}}
Dunn {{yel|70}}
Matheson {{yel|71}}

|stadium = Benedictine U. Sports Complex Stadium

|location = Lisle, Illinois

|attendance = 1,822

|referee =

|result = W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round =5

|date = May 3, 2014

|time = 18:30

|team1 = Washington Spirit

|score = 1–2

|report = [http://us.women.soccerway.com/matches/2014/05/04/united-states/national-womens-soccer-league/washington-spirit/seattle-reign/1648510/ Box Score]

|team2 = Seattle Reign FC

|goals1 = Krieger {{goal|53}}

|goals2 = Fishlock {{goal|55}}
Leroux {{goal|76}}

|stadium = Maureen Hendricks Field Maryland SoccerPlex

|location = Boyds, Maryland

|attendance = 4,667

|referee = Elvis Mahmutovic

|result = L

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round =6

|date = May 11, 2014

|time = 19:00

|team1 = FC Kansas City

|score = 2–1

|report = [http://us.women.soccerway.com/matches/2014/05/12/united-states/national-womens-soccer-league/kansas-city/washington-spirit/1648519/ Box Score]

|team2 = Washington Spirit

|goals1 = Rodriguez {{goal|35||64}}

|goals2 = Gayle {{yel|50}}
Adams {{goal|63}}

|stadium = Durwood Soccer Stadium

|location = Kansas City, Missouri

|attendance = 1,797

|referee = Matt Mercier

|result = L

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round =7

|date = May 17, 2014

|time = 18:30

|team1 = Washington Spirit

|score = 3–2

|report = [http://us.women.soccerway.com/matches/2014/05/18/united-states/national-womens-soccer-league/washington-spirit/buffalo-flash/1648523/ Box Score]

|team2 = Western New York Flash

|goals1 = Taylor {{goal|11||78}}
Williamson {{goal|71|o.g.}}

|goals2 = Wambach {{goal|18}}
Lloyd {{goal|30}}
Salem {{sent off|2|75|90+5}}

|stadium = Maureen Hendricks Field Maryland SoccerPlex

|location = Boyds, Maryland

|attendance = 4,598

|referee = Katja Koroleva

|result = W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round =8

|date = May 21, 2014

|time = 19:00

|team1 = Washington Spirit

|score = 3–3

|report = [http://us.women.soccerway.com/matches/2014/05/22/united-states/national-womens-soccer-league/washington-spirit/jersey-sky-blue/1648526/ Box Score]

|team2 = Sky Blue FC

|goals1 = Gayle {{goal|38}}
Lindsey {{goal|74}}
Matheson {{goal|90+2|pen.}}

|goals2 = Filigno {{goal|47}} {{yel|55}}
Freels {{goal|51}}
O'Hara {{goal|65}}

|stadium = Maureen Hendricks Field Maryland SoccerPlex

|location = Boyds, Maryland

|attendance = 2,545

|referee = Boris Senic

|result = D

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round =9

|date = May 26, 2014

|time = 16:00

|team1 = Washington Spirit

|score = 3–2

|report = [http://us.women.soccerway.com/matches/2014/05/26/united-states/national-womens-soccer-league/washington-spirit/houston-dash/1648533/ Box Score]

|team2 = Houston Dash

|goals1 = Matheson {{goal|4}}
Taylor {{goal|38}}
Nairn {{goal|90+3}}

|goals2 = Burger {{goal|12}}
Ohale {{goal|77}}

|stadium = Maureen Hendricks Field Maryland SoccerPlex

|location = Boyds, Maryland

|attendance = 2,865

|referee = Matthew Franz

|result = W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round =10

|date = Jun 1, 2014

|time = 18:30

|team1 = Boston Breakers

|score = 2–3

|report = [http://us.women.soccerway.com/matches/2014/06/02/united-states/national-womens-soccer-league/boston-breakers/washington-spirit/1648538/ Box Score]

|team2 = Washington Spirit

|goals1 = Sanderson {{goal|29||37}}

|goals2 = Nairn {{goal|33}}
Taylor {{goal|49||74}}

|stadium = Harvard Stadium

|location = Boston, Massachusetts

|attendance = 2,876

|referee = Karen Abt

|result = W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|date = June 4, 2014

|time = 19:00 CDT (UTC−05)

|round = 11

|team1 = Chicago Red Stars

|score = 0-1

|report = [https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2014/06/05/united-states/national-womens-soccer-league/chicago-red-stars/washington-spirit/1648539/ Summary]

|team2 = Washington Spirit

|goals1 = Morway {{yel|40}}

|goals2 = Gayle {{yel|27}}
Taylor {{Goal|79}}
Pérez {{yel|90}}

|stadium = Village of Lisle-Benedictine University Sports Complex

|location = Lisle, Illinois

|attendance = 1450

|referee = {{flagicon|USA}} Josh Wilkens

|result = W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round =12

|date = Jun 11, 2014

|time = 19:00

|team1 = Boston Breakers

|score = 2–0

|report = [http://us.women.soccerway.com/matches/2014/06/12/united-states/national-womens-soccer-league/boston-breakers/washington-spirit/1648545/ Box Score]

|team2 = Washington Spirit

|goals1 = Schoepfer {{goal|42}}
Jones {{goal|43}}

|goals2 = Adams {{yel|60}}

|stadium = Harvard Stadium

|location = Boston, Massachusetts

|attendance = 1,429

|referee = Timon Berry

|result = L

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round =13

|date = Jun 15, 2014

|time = 17:00

|team1 = Portland Thorns FC

|score = 2–0

|report = [http://us.women.soccerway.com/matches/2014/06/15/united-states/national-womens-soccer-league/portland-thorns/washington-spirit/1648549/ Box Score]

|team2 = Washington Spirit

|goals1 = McDonald {{goal|11}}
Boquete {{goal|78}}

|goals2 = Angeli {{yel|45+2}} {{sent off|0|86}}

|stadium = Providence Park

|location = Portland, Oregon

|attendance = 10,056

|referee = Michael Zapata

|result = L

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round =14

|date = Jun 21, 2014

|time = 18:30

|team1 = Washington Spirit

|score = 1–6

|report = [http://us.women.soccerway.com/matches/2014/06/22/united-states/national-womens-soccer-league/washington-spirit/portland-thorns/1648552/ Box Score]

|team2 = Portland Thorns FC

|goals1 = Gayle {{yel|9}}
Nairn {{goal|62}}

|goals2 = Sinclair {{goal|5}}
Morgan {{goal|11||70}}
Brooks {{yel|59}}
McDonald {{goal|85|87}}
Menges {{yel|88}}
Long {{goal|90+1}}

|stadium = Maureen Hendricks Field Maryland SoccerPlex

|location = Boyds, Maryland

|attendance = 3,806

|referee = Kristen Salazar

|result = L

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round =15

|date = Jun 28, 2014

|time = 21:00

|team1 = Houston Dash

|score = 0–1

|report = [http://us.women.soccerway.com/matches/2014/06/29/united-states/national-womens-soccer-league/houston-dash/washington-spirit/1648559/ Box score]

|team2 = Washington Spirit

|goals1 =

|goals2 = Taylor {{goal|62}}

|stadium = BBVA Compass Stadium

|location = Houston, Texas

|attendance = 4,050

|referee = Maraget Domka

|result = W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round =16

|date = Jul 2, 2014

|time = 19:00

|team1 = Washington Spirit

|score = 3–3

|report = [http://us.women.soccerway.com/matches/2014/07/03/united-states/national-womens-soccer-league/washington-spirit/boston-breakers/1648561/ Box Score]

|team2 = Boston Breakers

|goals1 = Taylor {{goal|28|56}}
De Vanna {{yel|30}}
Krieger {{yel|87}}
Matheson {{goal|90+1|pen.}}

|goals2 = O'Reilly {{goal|4|pen.|7|pen.}} {{yel|19}}
Reeves {{goal|44}}
Lohman {{yel|45+1}}
Evans {{sent off|0|70|}}
Sierra {{yel|90}}

|stadium = Maureen Hendricks Field Maryland SoccerPlex

|location = Boyds, Maryland

|attendance = 2,673

|referee = Dimitar Chavdarov

|result = D

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round =17

|date = Jul 12, 2014

|time = 19:00

|team1 = Western New York Flash

|score = 0–1

|report = [http://us.women.soccerway.com/matches/2014/07/13/united-states/national-womens-soccer-league/buffalo-flash/washington-spirit/1648570/ Box Score]

|team2 = Washington Spirit

|goals1 = Reynolds {{sent off|0|54}}

|goals2 = Taylor {{yel|52}}
Matheson {{goal|56|pen.}}
Nairn {{yel|73}}

|stadium = Sahlen's Stadium

|location = Rochester, New York

|attendance = 3,134

|referee = Chris Spivey

|result = W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round =18

|date = Jul 17, 2014

|time = 21:00

|team1 = Houston Dash

|score = 1–1

|report = [http://us.women.soccerway.com/matches/2014/07/18/united-states/national-womens-soccer-league/houston-dash/washington-spirit/1648574/ Box Score]

|team2 = Washington Spirit

|goals1 = Diggs {{goal|74}}

|goals2 = De Vanna {{goal|19}}

|stadium = BBVA Compass Stadium

|location = Houston, Texas

|attendance = 3,561

|referee = Michael Zapata

|result = D

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round =19

|date = Jul 20, 2014

|time = 18:00

|team1 = Sky Blue FC

|score = 4–2

|report = [http://us.women.soccerway.com/matches/2014/07/21/united-states/national-womens-soccer-league/jersey-sky-blue/washington-spirit/1648577/ Box Score]

|team2 = Washington Spirit

|goals1 = O'Hara {{goal|22||85}}
Schmidt {{goal|36}}
Nadim {{goal|81}}

|goals2 = Gayle {{yel|57}} {{goal|89}}
Taylor {{goal|88}}

|stadium = Yurcak Field

|location = Piscataway, New Jersey

|attendance = 1,740

|referee = Bernhard Hosu

|result = L

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round =20

|date = Jul 23, 2014

|time = 19:00

|team1 = Washington Spirit

|score = 1–1

|report = [http://us.women.soccerway.com/matches/2014/07/24/united-states/national-womens-soccer-league/washington-spirit/portland-thorns/1648579/ Box Score]

|team2 = Portland Thorns FC

|goals1 = Taylor {{goal|68}}

|goals2 = Morgan {{goal|7}}

|stadium = Maureen Hendricks Field Maryland SoccerPlex

|location = Boyds, Maryland

|attendance = 3,854

|referee = Katja Koroleva

|result = D

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round =21

|date = Jul 30, 2014

|time = 19:00

|team1 = Washington Spirit

|score = 2–1

|report = [http://us.women.soccerway.com/matches/2014/07/31/united-states/national-womens-soccer-league/washington-spirit/kansas-city/1648584/ Box Score]

|team2 = FC Kansas City

|goals1 = Garefrekes {{goal|49}}
Nairn {{goal|67}}

|goals2 = Sauerbrunn {{goal|18}}

|stadium = Maureen Hendricks Field Maryland SoccerPlex

|location = Boyds, Maryland

|attendance = 2,744

|referee = Kristen Salazar

|result = W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|date = {{Start date|2014|8|2}}

|time = 18:30 EDT (UTC−04)

|round = 22

|team1 = Washington Spirit

|score = 2–1

|report = [http://us.women.soccerway.com/matches/2014/08/03/united-states/national-womens-soccer-league/washington-spirit/chicago-red-stars/1648587/ Box Score]

|team2 = Chicago Red Stars

|goals1 = Nairn {{goal|47}} {{yel|82}}
Averbuch {{goal|90+4}}

|goals2 = Chalupny {{goal|3}}
Hoy {{yel|28}}
Santacaterina {{yel|30}}

|stadium = Maryland SoccerPlex

|location = Boyds, Maryland

|attendance = 3,102

|referee = Chris Spivey

|result = W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round =23

|date = Aug 9, 2014

|time = 22:00

|team1 = Seattle Reign FC

|score =1–1

|report =http://us.women.soccerway.com/matches/2014/08/10/united-states/national-womens-soccer-league/seattle-reign/washington-spirit/1648595/ Box Score]

|team2 = Washington Spirit

|goals1 =Reed {{yel|16}}
Little {{goal|89}}
Fishlock {{yel|90}}

|goals2 =Matheson {{goal|29}}

|stadium = Memorial Stadium

|location = Seattle, Washington

|attendance =3,479

|referee ={{flagicon|USA}} Elvis Mahmutovic

|result =D

}}

{{football box collapsible

|round =24

|date = Aug 16, 2014

|time = 18:30

|team1 = Washington Spirit

|score = 0–1

|report =[http://us.women.soccerway.com/matches/2014/08/17/united-states/national-womens-soccer-league/washington-spirit/jersey-sky-blue/1648599/ Box Score]

|team2 = Sky Blue FC

|goals1 =

|goals2 =Ocampo {{goal|27}}

|stadium = Maureen Hendricks Field Maryland SoccerPlex

|location = Boyds, Maryland

|attendance = 4,282

|referee = David Mon

|result =L

}}

{{:2014 National Women's Soccer League season|showteam=WAS}}

{{Fb rs |hw=5 |hd=3 |hl=4 |hgf=23 |hga=26 |aw=5 |ad=2 |al=5 |agf=13 |aga=17 }}

{{Fb rs footer|u=August 16, 2014|s=Match reports |date=April 2014}}

{{#invoke:sports rbr table|table|legendpos=b|header=Round

|label1= Stadium

| res1=H/H/A/A/H/A/H/H/H/A/A/A/A/H/A/H/A/A/A/H/H/H/A/H

|label2= Result

| res2=L/W/L/W/L/L/W/D/W/W/W/L/L/L/W/D/W/D/L/D/W/W/D/L

|text_H=Home|text_A=Away

|color_W=green2|text_W=Win

|color_D=yellow2|text_D=Draw

|color_L=red2|text_L=Loss

|updated=August 16, 2014

|source=Match reports

|date=April 2014

}}

{{football box collapsible

|team1= Seattle Reign FC

|round= Semi-finals

|date= August 23, 2014

|time= 8:00 pm PDT

|score= 2–1

|report= [http://nwslsoccer.com/news-2/jul---sep-2014/reign-fc-beats-spirit--2-1 Report]

|team2= Washington Spirit

|goals1= Little {{goal|72}}
Rapinoe {{goal|82}}
Fletcher {{yel|90+5}}

|goals2= Averbuch {{yel|31}}
Pérez {{goal|65}}
Nairn {{yel|90+2}}

|stadium= Memorial Stadium

|location= Seattle, Washington

|attendance= 4,540

|referee= Timon Berry

|result= L

}}

Note: only regular season squad statistics displayed.

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

• 2014 National Women's Soccer League season

{{reflist}}

{{Washington Spirit}}

{{2014 NWSL season by team}}

{{2014 in American soccer}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2014 Washington Spirit Season}}

Category:Washington Spirit seasons

Washington Spirit

Washington Spirit

Washington Spirit