Julie Doyle Puts on a Show as Pride Take Down Spirit in D.C.

The Orlando Pride and Washington Spirit met in the District of Columbia for a big-league clash. For the Pride, they’re trying to keep pace with the playoff teams, and for the Spirit, they’re trying to right the ship and get back in first place. The night was festive with America on full display, the only thing that was canceled was the First Helicopter Squadron fly over out of America’s Airfield Joint Base Andrews. Ed Foster-Simeon of the U.S. Soccer Foundation CEO was the honorary captain for the match.

Orlando had just one road win in the past nine league matches since September 2022, that one win was a 3 – 1 victory. Marta is now the club’s all-time leader in appearances with 95 passing Toni Pressley. Last Friday was coach Mark Parson’s 183rd match as a head coach, he only trails OL Reign’s Laura Harvey for the most regular season matches coached in NWSL.

Julie Doyle scores off a volley straight into the middle of the goal in the 8′ of the first half, she found a gap in the defensive formation of the spirit and made them pay early.

Just eight minutes later Julie strikes again earning her brace from the same spot she scored her first goal. The goal was assisted by Erika Tymrak.

The Spirit had a golden opportunity in the 26′ but a poorly played ball by Ines killed off the chance and led to a Pride counterattack, the counterattack was stopped in the midfield.

A huge save by Barnhart in the 29′ stopped Kerry Abello’s attempt at the 2nd post from the left side of the box 16-yards from the goal.

In the 34′ Bright just obliterated Ines 1 v 1 into the box, Julie Doyle is open top of the box, and she sends a strike at the goal, it goes just over the crossbar for a goal kick.

In the 40′ Tara McKeown makes a big-time block on Julie Doyle from 10 yards out from the left of the goal. Julie is having herself a big match this first half as she pursues a hat trick.

The match makes it to halftime with the scoreline of Washington Spirit 0 – 2 Orlando Pride.

I asked Mark about the play of Chloe and Hatch in the second half and their connection seems to build as the season moves forward. As well as what his thoughts are on why it’s developing so quickly. Mark’s answer “She’s such a smart play and she reads people and Chloe’s the best thing I’ve always she’s brave she makes she receives the ball to go forward. She wants to dribble forward she wants to pass cross-shoot forward. She’s a player that you won’t see going backwards or sideways often. I think when you have a midfielder doing that and an elite number nine like Hatch then, they’re going to have a connection.”

Mark Parson Head Coach Washington Spirit

The Washington Spirit brought on Chloe Rickettes and Civana Kuhlmann for Amber Brooks and Nicole Douglas at halftime.

Chloe has made an impact since coming into the match, Kerry Abello is shown a yellow card for a hard foul. The card was issued by the center referee in the 46′ of match play.

In the 53′ Ines makes a dangerous pass back to her center back that was so slow the Prides striker nearly ran onto the ball for a golden chance at goal with Barnhart out of position to even try to stop it. Thankfully the center back arrived first and cleared it out just in time. Washington is looking lethargic this match, almost as if they’re still in bed resting. Mark is not happy on the sidelines for the Spirit and is wanting more from his players.

In the 57′ Chloe Rickett goes dancing at Audi Field, spinning her competition into the ground and making them eat some Bermuda grass in the process. She finds her teammate Ashley Hatch who goes in on goal, she breaks the defenders in multiple one on ones, gets to the middle of the box, 16 yards out, and unleashes a strike at the goal. Unfortunately, she leaned back just before the strike and the ball ended up going high into the stands over the crossbar. It was a golden chance to get the Spirit back into the game, but we’re starting to see some life even if it’s just from Hatch and Chloe right now.

Civana and Chloe connect and Civana sends a ball in on the goal, but it’s cleared out before it gets to Hatch in the middle of the goal. The two substitutions are making things happen with Captain Hatchy in the second half. This a drastic change from the first half where it appeared the team was asleep, and the Pride took advantage quickly.

What an unfortunate turn of events for Tara McKeown who gave her entire body up to block the strike by Orlando. Tara gets an unlucky break, and the ball finds the back of the goal and Tara has a huge welt on her back for her troubles. The score is 3 – 0 but the crowd here at Audi Field is still behind their team cheering the Spirit on. While in the first half, the Spirit looked like they had no chance at winning this game, they’ve had some players step up in the second half and have come close to creating dents in the armor of Orlando and their lead.

In the 68′ Chloe goes to prom again at Audi Field and just annihilates her defender in an almost-taking candy from a baby fashion. She goes for the second post; it goes just inches wide of the post and out for a goal kick.

I asked Chloe and Hatch about their growing connection on the field especially in the second half of tonight’s match. Chloe answered first “Yeah, so Hatch has been like one of my greatest mentors. She’s probably the nicest person I’ve ever met off the field and like just learning from her on and off the field has been helpful for me. She’s like, a big sister.” Hatch says “Thanks Chloe Yeah, I mean, I feel like we haven’t had a ton of time together on the field. But just the type of player that Chloe is. When she comes on the field. She works hard. She wants to make things happen. I’d like to think I’m the same way too. So I think we both kind of have that desire to want to go forward. So whenever she does get the ball, I know we’re probably going to try and go forward. So that’s really helpful and I’m looking forward to continuing our relationship but everyone else’s relationship on the field.”

Photo Credit: Joe of the Local W (photos are from Chloe and Hatch being asked about their growing relationship on the pitch by J.J. of Bad Dawg Sports.)

In the 75′ Stabb with a big save from a shot just 11 yards from the goal to keep it 0 – 3 for the Pride.

A minute later Ashley Hatch is shown a yellow card in the 76′ after a so-called foul committed just a few yards from the goal. The foul was clearly on the Pride Haley McCutcheon, but the center called it on Hatchy anyway and then yellow-carded her on top of it.

In the 80′ Chloe and Hatch again connect after a solid move by Chloe taking her defender on a trip around D.C. showing off all the sights and dining options before getting clear and finding Hatch who went in at the goal.

In the 84′ Sam Stabb would be treated for a possible head injury after her header attempt at goal goes just wide.

We didn’t see the Washington Spirit team we’re accustomed to seeing especially at Audi Field. It will be interesting to see what Mark has to say about the game. The center had a decent first half, nothing great but had a horrendous second half in which she made the game about herself instead of the players. The player of the match is Julie Doyle of the Orlando Pride hands down, for the Spirit it would probably be Chloe Ricketts the little Pitbull had herself a match, and even if she only played the second half, she made an immediate impact and lifted her team’s spirits on the field.

Photo Credit: Peyton Skeels