Washington Spirit left it late, but a decisive 81st-minute goal from Hal Hershfelt sealed a 2-1 National Women’s Soccer League win over Seattle Reign FC on Saturday night at Audi Field.

In front of a crowd of 19,365 in Washington, the Spirit made the brighter attacking moments count in a tightly contested fixture. Leicy Santos put the hosts in front in the 18th minute with a superb free-kick, only for Seattle Reign FC to pull level just before the interval when Lucia Di Guglielmo turned the ball into her own net in the 44th minute.

That left the match finely poised at 1-1 heading into the second half, and for long stretches it felt as though one moment of quality, or one mistake, would decide it. Washington eventually found that moment through Hershfelt, who struck in the 81st minute to restore the home side’s advantage and send Audi Field into celebration.

Spirit strike first through Santos

The opening phase had an edge to it, with both sides battling for control in midfield and neither willing to give much away. Washington’s intent was clear, though, and Seattle’s early caution was reflected when Holly Ward was shown a yellow card in the 17th minute.

A minute later, the Spirit punished the visitors. Santos stepped up over a free-kick in the 18th minute and found the breakthrough, giving Washington a 1-0 lead with a set-piece finish that shifted the momentum squarely toward the hosts.

Washington nearly carried that advantage into the break, but Seattle found a route back in unfortunate fashion for the home side. In the 44th minute, Di Guglielmo’s own goal brought Reign level at 1-1, a setback that changed the feel of the evening just before halftime.

Hershfelt settles a tense second half

The second half was more cagey than expansive, with both teams showing discipline out of possession. The overall numbers underlined how little separated them: Seattle just shaded possession 50.3 to 49.7 percent, and both sides won five corners.

But Washington carried the greater threat in the final third. The Spirit finished with 12 shots to Seattle’s five and put three efforts on target, compared with two for the visitors. That territorial pressure gradually mounted as the half wore on, even if clear openings remained at a premium.

Seattle’s resistance was tested further by a series of bookings, with Sally Menti cautioned in the 59th minute and Phoebe McClernon following in the 68th. Washington also saw Andi Sullivan booked in the 78th minute as the tension rose entering the closing stages.

Then came the winning moment. In the 81st minute, Hershfelt found the goal that ultimately decided the fixture, capping a persistent Spirit performance and ensuring the hosts turned their attacking edge into all three points.

What the result means

The victory moves Washington Spirit to 5-3-2 on the season, while Seattle Reign FC drop to 4-2-4. It was a result built on Washington’s ability to generate more chances and respond positively after the disappointment of conceding an equaliser right before halftime.

For Seattle, there was plenty of resolve and they stayed in the contest deep into the night, but they struggled to create enough from open play to complete a turnaround. For the Spirit, meanwhile, this was the kind of hard-earned home win that can carry real value over the course of an NWSL campaign.

Goals: Leicy Santos 18′, Lucia Di Guglielmo own goal 44′, Hal Hershfelt 81′.