In their first-ever NWSL playoff appearance, seventh-seed Bay FC gave the Washington Spirit all they could handle but ultimately lost 2-1 on Sunday in extra time.
For the first eighty minutes of the game, it was a tense and taught affair between the two sides, with both Bay and the Spirit having their chances but unable to score.
Then, in the 82nd minute, a cross from Bay FC winger Alyssa Malonson found its way over the box to an on-rushing Penelope Hocking. She hit the ball back across the face of the goal, and it found a completely unmarked Asisat Oshoala, who converted and gave the underdog a real chance of the surprising upset with only minutes left on the clock.
But Washington responded by going all out on the attack. It was rewarded only four minutes later when, after a couple of shots in the box were repelled by the Bay defense, the Spirit’s Tara McKeown ran onto one of the clearances and perfectly placed her low shot just out of the reach of Bay keeper Katelyn Rowland.
Spirit was not able to find the equalizer in the remainder of regulation but kept up the pressure as the extra period started. Finally, a miscue in the back line led to Washington taking the lead.
Trinity Rodman launched a floating cross out wide into the box intended for substitute striker Lena Silano. It instead fell right onto the head of Bay winger Caprice Dydasco, who inadvertently redirected the ball towards the net to score an own goal in the 96th minute.
Bay FC was not able to connect with another solid chance and Washington was able to hold on to their advantage and advance into the NWSL playoff semifinals.
Despite the loss and end of their inaugural campaign, it was a successful first season for the Bay. They improved dramatically as a team from the beginning of the season and challenged one of the best teams in the league on their home turf.
