Mallory Pugh gathered the ball 10 yards inside the Washington Spirit’s attacking end and saw acres of lovely green grass in front of her. This is where the 19-year-old attacker excels — in open space, in possession, with the freedom to improvise and burn defenders.
And so in the 80th minute of the home opener, the rising star from the U.S. national team seized on the opportunity and shattered a scoreless National Women’s Soccer League match, pacing the Spirit to a 2-0 victory over the Orlando Pride before 4,989 at Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds.
Since finishing last in 2017, Washington has restructured the roster with the acquisition of several young players full of skill and capacity, including first overall draft pick Andi Sullivan.