NWSL Rewind: Spirit makes it three in a row

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, May 3, 2016

Despite a change in coach, the Washington Spirit is off to the best start in the NWSL with three wins in three games after its 3-0 win at the Western New York Flash. Next up after two games on the road will be a game Saturday against second-place Portland, coached by former Spirit coach Mark Parsons.

Canadian midfielder Diana Matheson had the first two goals against the Flash, and Katie Stengel capped the win with the third goal.

Portland is the only other unbeaten team after its 1-0 win at Boston. The Thorns hired Parsons shortly after the 2015 season ended. Washington replaced him with Jim Gabarra, who returned to Maryland after three seasons at Sky Blue FC.



-- Sky Blue FC signed New Zealand goalkeeper Erin Nayler, who played every minute for the Football Ferns in the 2015 Women’s World Cup. She played at Northern Football for current Sky Blue FC assistant coach Paul Greig. Sky Blue FC has been starting second-year pro Caroline Stanley in goal.

Week 3:
FRIDAY, APRIL 29
WNY Flash 0 Washington 3 (Matheson 14, pen. 71, Stengel 82).
Att.: 3,615.
Houston Dash 0 Sky Blue FC 0.
Att.: 5,081
SUNDAY, MAY 1
Boston 0 Portland 1 (Brynjarsdottir 79).
Att.: 3,698.
Chicago 1 Orlando 0 (Press 65).
Att.: 4,024
Seattle 1 (Little 56) FC Kansas City 0.
Att.: 4,083.

NWSL Standings:
PTS TEAM W-L-T +/-
9 Washington 3-0-0 6/1
7 Portland 2-0-1 4/2
6 Seattle 2-1-0 5/2
6 Chicago 2-1-0 3/3
-----------------------------
4 Houston 1-1-1 4/4
4 Sky Blue FC 1-1-1 3/3
3 Orlando 1-2-0 4/4
3 WNY Flash 1-2-0 1/4
1 FC Kansas City 0-2-1 1/3
0 Boston 0-3-0 0/5

Week 4:
SATURDAY, MAY 7
Boston vs. Chicago
Sky Blue FC vs. WNY Flash
Washington vs. Portland
FC Kansas City vs. Houston
SUNDAY, MAY 8
Orlando vs. Seattle