Washington Spirit showcase depth in 2-1 win over OL Reign

The Washington Spirit kicked off their championship defense in style, defeating OL Reign 2-1 in the NWSL regular season opener for both sides. With 10,177 in attendance at Audi Field, the Spirit got top-class goals from Ashley Sanchez and Ashley Hatch in either half, while Aubrey Kingsbury saved a penalty kick for the second straight week.

Washington caused the initial problems, but the biggest early chance came at the other end. A ball over the top found Ally Watt isolated in space, and as she tried to move past Camryn Biegalski inside the box, the Spirit defender collided with her. Referee Alexandra Billeter had no choice but to point to the spot. Rose Lavelle took the 9th minute penalty,…