Audi Field’s first eruption Saturday was registered at the stroke of 2 p.m., just minutes before the clock on the Washington Spirit’s season was set to hit midnight.
The trembling began when Tara McKeown drew a free kick on the edge of the box, with the Spirit trailing Gotham FC by a goal in second-half stoppage time and a trip to the NWSL championship game at stake. The noise crescendoed as Makenna Morris stood over the set piece and whipped in a cross. When Hal Hershfelt rose through traffic to nod it home — giving the Spirit a last-gasp equalizer for the second straight playoff game — the sellout crowd of 19,365 quaked in exultation.