The Washington Spirit — with a new coach, new color scheme and a revamped roster — encountered some familiar problems in a 1-0 season-opening loss Sunday night to the Seattle Reign at Lumen Field.
The biggest of those problems was also the most immediate: About 10 seconds into the game, Washington defender Gabrielle Carle made an awkward challenge on Jordyn Huitema in the penalty area that led to a penalty kick for the Reign. Bethany Balcer converted a few minutes later, a goal that proved to be decisive, beating Aubrey Kingsbury with a low drive into the left corner.