Christine Nairn’s first goal Thursday came from standard length: a penalty kick in the first half.
Her second was from uncommon and breathtaking distance: a 40-yard shot over a backtracking goalkeeper midway through the second half.
Together, the strikes yielded a 2-1 victory for the Washington Spirit over the Houston Dash at BBVA Compass Stadium and lifted the visitors into sole possession of first place in the National Women’s Soccer League.
Nairn, an Annapolis native and Archbishop Spalding grad who starred at Penn State, had not scored this season before converting from the penalty spot in the 31st minute.