The Washington Spirit welcomed back five starters Friday from U.S. national team duty, but even after taking three leads and watching Trinity Rodman score twice, the reigning National Women’s Soccer League champions settled for a 3-3 draw with the North Carolina Courage in Cary, N.C.
Washington (1-5-8) has not won since the May 1 opener and, with eight games left and sitting next to last in the 12-team standings, further endangered its chances of returning to the six-club playoffs.
All the scoring occurred in a 20-minute span bridging intermission. Rodman, a 20-year-old forward who helped the U.