Washington Spirit answer late Houston Dash goal with even later Trinity Rodman winner: Match report
The Spirit claimed a dramatic 2-1 win as Rodman scored her second of the match deep in stoppage time.
The Washington Spirit may have spent a few weeks on the sideline, but their penchant for late drama takes no days off.
The Spirit defeated the Houston Dash 2-1 on a sweltering night at Audi Field, claiming victory in second-half stoppage time. Trinity Rodman produced a brace, with a stunning late winner making sure the Spirit came out of the break with three points despite an 89th-minute Houston goal from Kate Faasse.
With temperatures hovering just under 100° at kickoff, both teams were incentivized to get off to a positive start and save themselves the need to mount a comeback on depleted legs. However, the Spirit — fielding a new-look lineup with Andi Sullivan making her first NWSL start since October 6, 2024, Élisabeth Tsé at right back, and Esme Morgan on the bench — struggled to connect inside the final third.
However, Sullivan made her mark in the 33rd minute, offering a ball from deep that was tailored perfectly for Rodman's run in behind. Rodman and Avery Patterson, teammates for the U.S. women's national team, tangled, with referee Danielle Chesky immediately pointing to the spot.
Patterson was booked, but Washington couldn't make the opportunity count. Rosemonde Kouassi stepped up and aimed to Jane Campbell's right, but the Houston veteran leapt over to slap the shot away.
Leicy Santos curled a 43rd-minute free kick over the Dash wall but just wide, but beyond that, chances were hard to come by at either end.
Whatever the issues were in the first half, they were resolved shortly after play resumed. Copying Sullivan's earlier ball on the penalty kick, Santos set up shop well inside the Spirit half before delivering an inch-perfect diagonal in behind for Rodman.
This time, no defender was even close, and the California native clinically fired past Campbell to give Washington a 50th-minute lead.
WHAT A BEAUTY OF A BALL FROM LEICY SANTOS, WHAT A BEAUTY OF A GOAL FROM TRINITY RODMAN ❤️🔥
— NWSL (@nwslsoccer.com) July 3, 2026 at 9:22 PM
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Washington got more good news in the form of Deb Abiodun's return, with the midfielder making her first appearance since late March.
The Spirit, more confident with the 1-0 lead, began chipping away at Houston's resistance. Rodman had an angled shot deflected over, while a loose ball from a Santos corner just lacked a finishing touch. Sofia Cantore, with her last touch of the match, saw a near-post shot miss by inches after fine work from Gabby Carle along the right flank.
Washington attacks were coming in waves. Santos powered a volley over the bar after Kouassi and Gift Monday pried the Dash defense open along the right in the 73rd minute, while Campbell produced an unreal save to rob Tara Rudd on a Washington corner 10 minutes later.
Houston had barely been within range of goal to shoot at all, yet suddenly they equalized in the 89th minute. Linda Ullmark got on the turn and barely poked a pass away from Abiodun.
Sophie Schmidt couldn't get a touch, but that caught out the Spirit center backs, allowing substitute Faasse to race in alone and secure what seemed like an unlikely point for Houston.
A late-game equalizer from Kate Faasse ‼️
— NWSL (@nwslsoccer.com) July 3, 2026 at 10:03 PM
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All seemed lost, but the Spirit somehow sneaked off with three points. Rodman slipped as she lined up a shot from just outside of the box in the 94th minute, but the bobbling effort benefitted from Monday's dummy, finding its way past Campbell and into the bottom corner.
TRINITY RODMAN WINS IT IN STOPPAGE TIME 🚨🚨
— NWSL (@nwslsoccer.com) July 3, 2026 at 10:06 PM
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With what is a fourth straight win at Audi Field, the Spirit (7-3-2) will take a long week to prepare for a grueling set of fixtures to come. A three-games-in-eight-days road trip begins next Saturday as Washington visits the North Carolina Courage. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET, and Green Line Soccer will be in the building for full coverage.
Box score — NWSL regular season (game 12)
7/3/2026
Washington Spirit 2 (Rodman 50, 94+)
Houston Dash 1 (Faasse 89)
Lineups:
Spirit (433): Sandy MacIver; Élisabeth Tsé (Gabby Carle 62), Rebeca Bernal, Tara Rudd, Lucia Di Guglielmo; Hal Hershfelt, Andi Sullivan (C) (Deb Abiodun 62), Leicy Santos; Rosemonde Kouassi, Sofia Cantore (Gift Monday 70), Trinity Rodman
Dash (4231): Jane Campbell (C); Avery Patterson, Paige Nielsen (Malia Berkely 46), Leah Klenke, Lisa Boattin (Allysha Chapman 84); Danny Colaprico, Sarah Puntigam (Clarissa Larisey 62); Linda Ullmark, Kat Rader (Sophie Schmidt 70), Maggie Graham; Kiki van Zanten (Kate Faasse 46)
Bookings:
Spirit - Abiodun 65
Dash - Patterson 33
Referee: Danielle Chesky
Weather: Punishing heat like the wrath of an angry god, 98°
Attendance: 15,792
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