nwsl team admins leaning hard into weird has been a delightful development

👊 "Grit Zone" 📐 The tiny gains that, stacked up back-to-back-to-back, can crack a tight game 3️⃣ Sullivan and a midfield shape change set the stage ❓ How's Rodman? The raw materials to analyze the Spirit were excellent in Seattle, which means hopefully an edifying Green Line Soccer article:

🌸NEW POD🌸 Annie, Ella & André review a tough 1-0 win against Seattle Reign. We discuss #suffering through pressure, the multi-faceted goal, Andi Sullivan the legend, Hal catching a fish, José, and more! 🟢 podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h... 🍎 podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h... #nwsl #woso

Claudinha in good company

Small news item but one that I think the east coast late-night ghouls and goblins (my people) will enjoy: By avoiding a yellow card today, Hal Hershfelt got the NWSL good behavior bonus, so she's back down to 0 yellow cards in terms of suspension worries.

It wasn't a pretty match, but Washington Spirit's substitutes saw them through. A goal by Claudia Martínez saw them to a fifth consecutive win tonight against Seattle Reign.

CLAUDINHAAAAA 🇵🇾🇵🇾🇵🇾

Adrián González says Trinity Rodman's substitution was precautionary, and that fatigue was a factor. Spirit have 3 more games in the next 13 days, plus flights to San Diego & Mexico. Halftime changes were about that & bringing in tactical shifts.

"You cannot always have the games that you want," says González in terms of having to solve a game that was so closed off. "We've done a great job, and that's gonna be super important for the future." (? from @andre-carlisle.bsky.social)

André, currently:

Btw BIG f’n ups to BIG f’n Sandy! Her play has been superb the past several games. Her skill set really gives this defense an entirely new wrinkle.

"To be honest, it was a bit of a hard watch, so my apologies for people watching at home," jokes Sandy MacIver on a tough win. Gabby Carle described most of this game for her as being in "the grit zone."

DUBDUBDUBDUBDUBS IN THE CHAT

FT | 1-0 Wasn’t pretty, struggled a lot with Seattle’s setup and pressure, Trin went off earlier than planned (after Rose was subbed), leaving Metayer playing RW. Claudia Martínez found a way to get the ball in the net for the lone goal of the game. THREE POINTS, BYE SEATTLE!

Sandy pounces on a low cross from Adames, nearly there….

hey y’all, claudia martínez

Three minutes into six minutes of stoppage time…

NO IT IS ILLEGAL TO SUB BRITTANY RATCLIFFE ON AGAINST US WE PROTEST @nwslsoccer.com

She confident hunny

"A new young star in the NWSL: Claudia Martínez!" A broadcast call coming soon to a @heyspirits.bsky.social intro near you!

I screamed this loud and woke up Cindy who was peacefully napping across the room 😂 (she is Mad™️)

CLAUDINHAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!

CLAUDINHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA 🇵🇾🇵🇾🇵🇾🇵🇾🇵🇾🇵🇾🇵🇾🇵🇾

THE CHILD

Laughing at the past version of myself who at one point thought “Gee I sure hope we see Claudia Martínez get on the field at least once for the Spirit before the midsummer break”

Martinez!!!!!

At the other end Dahlien cuts into the box and shoots but Sandy reads it, gets low and saves easily.

1-0 CLAUDINHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA EAFVBIUJHERVBIHFQR3IUWABIJRVWIUBLHJ EVRAIUBH AEVRUJHSBIUVWARLHJ,SHKV DMSBKUJHSDV BJBSHVDZ SVADJKZN SDVJKNMZ BJKVSDNBJKSV FMDZBJ NDVCJ,NSFDBCZJKMNS DVZNMSV DBJKZNMSVDJL NM SFJVADNX

Good work from Monday and Martínez to get the ball into the box. Claudia’s low cross gets to Metayer but she shoots right at Dickey.

71’ 🟨 Morgan Dahlien for the ball wide turn dribbled into Esme and fell, so the ref gave a foul and a card. Hm.

Seattle’s pressure hasn’t been as effective but it’s still there, and the threat is forcing the Spirit to play a bit quicker (therefore sloppier) than they want when they work the ball into a good area.

67’ SUBS Cantore & Bernal OFF Monday & MOMMA ANDI ON

Monday & Sullivan coming on shortly, that'll be all 5 subs used for the Spirit. Barring a concussion sub being used, that's it on the day.

65’ 🟨 Mondésir Lucia beat Mondésir with a good touch and was dragged down from behind.

Dickey gives the ball away and Hal goes for the cheeky chip but it flies high

Sandy Mac doo doo doo doo

Great step from Hal to spring a rare counter but Sofia’s pass back is misplaced and Seattle get let off the hook

Rodman subbed off here shortly after that recovery run. Di Guglielmo comes on, which as of now means Metayer up to RW and Carle back to RB

Mondésir gets in front of Gabby for a running header but there was just enough to get her to send the header right at Sandy.

We got a Trin Spin move! @washingtonspirit.com

Well enough to make a 35-yard recovery run to break up what was a threatening Reign counter

Trin was down and looking concerned as trainers tended to her ankle/heel. She's up and walking somewhat gingerly, but hopping up and down to see if she can shake it off.

oop admin went to get a snack and misjudged the time 46' | 🌸 COME ON SPIRITS 🌸

HT | 0-0 Seattle will be happier, their gameplan worked and has slower the Spirit attack down. Spirit bright spots are their out of possession work, Trin tracking back, and Carle handling Dahlien well. Need some adjustments halftime to get the buildup working.

Spirit force a high turnover and Trin gets a chance to shoot but it curls wide and over the bar

Good organization out of possession forces Seattle to play the ball out in their own area. Now let’s see if the Spirit can don something with it…

36’ 🟨 Bernal Rebe lunged to get the ball from Mondésir but was a half step late. Looked worse than it was but probs still a yellow.

Huerta tracks back to get in Rose’s way as she cuts in from the left toward goal, bit of contact but no call.