With a win on the road against the Chicago Red Stars on Saturday, the Washington Spirit would have moved into a tie atop the NWSL standings — a fine feather in the cap of a team that has started the season playing five of six matches away from home.
Considering Washington had one key contributor away because of Olympic preparations, two starters resting on the bench after returning from their own national team obligations, its leading scorer pulled before halftime with a head injury and its defensive anchor also knocked out of the game, three points would have amounted to a small miracle for Coach Richie Burke’s young squad.