Aubrey Kingsbury is Spirit’s penalty shootout hero in quarterfinal win over Louisville

Photo Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images

The Washington Spirit had a lot going for them as the No.2 overall seed at home against National Women’s Soccer League playoff debutants Racing Louisville. But it took extra time and penalty kicks on Saturday to finally secure their spot in the semifinals.

The Spirit thought they had opened the scoring just 17 minutes in when Rosemonde Kouassi‘s cross/shot found the back of the net. However, video-assisted review (VAR) determined that Leicy Santos was offside in the buildup and took away the goal.

The home team faced another early setback when defender Gabrielle Carle had to be substituted off in the 33rd minute due to injury. She was replaced by Kate Wiesner.

Washington would finally get their goal in the 73rd minute, much to the delight of rowdy Audi, this time with Kouassi as provider. Kouassi sent in a brilliant cross that Gift Monday headed perfectly past the reach of the Louisville goalkeeper for her ninth goal of the season. The tally was an emotional one for Monday as it came in the first game she played since her father passed away.

“That goal, I dedicate to all of the Spirit fans, and also my dad,” Monday said. “He was my first coach and made me what I am today. … I know my dad is with me, and he’s giving me the strength to keep going, and this goal was the proof.”

That would be the last time Racing goalkeeper Jordyn Bloomer was beaten in open play. The 28-year-old keeper was brilliant in her first postseason appearance, credited with seven saves on the night. She kept her team in the game time and time again.

Bloomer’s heroics would pay off in the first minutes of stoppage time when her team scored an equalizing goal. Courtney Petersen, who had entered the game just seven minutes earlier, sent a long ball in behind the backline that wasn’t properly dealt with defensively, allowing fellow substitute Kayla Fischer to poke it past the onrushing Aubrey Kingsbury.

And so, Louisville’s best season in franchise history, after finishing not in ninth place for the first time, continued to extra time. It was only the 12th playoff game in NWSL history to go to extra time, but the odds were still in Washington’s favor according to Keeper Notes, as of those 12, only three had been won by the away team. Only two had gone to penalty kicks, and both involved the Spirit, the 2016 final and the 2024 semifinal. Furthermore, every Washington home playoff game has gone to extra time, and they’ve advanced every time.

The Spirit lost another stalwart of their backline when Tara McKeown had to be replaced due to injury, but extra time otherwise remained deadlocked.

The penalty shootout that followed started strongly for the visitors as Bethany Balcer sent her shot straight down the middle past Kingsbury. Rebeca Bernal rocketed her spot kick into the top left corner to tie things up. Louisville would not convert another penalty in the shootout.

Ellie Jean‘s attempt hit the crossbar, going up and over the goal. Esme Morgan was up next for Washington, and she calmly slotted the ball past Bloomer. Marisa DiGrande then had her mid-height shot saved by Kingsbury. Hal Hershfelt next picked out nearly the same spot as Morgan to convert her penalty. With the result on the line, needing a conversion to continue the shootout, Ary Borges stepped up to the spot. Borges almost picked out the same spot as Morgan and Hershfelt, but Kingsbury got down well and made the save, winning the game.

It was a familiar sight as Kingsbury had performed similar heroics in last year’s semifinal, making three saves to send the Spirit through to the final. After a second year in a row of being the penalty shootout hero, Kingsbury was heavily praised by her teammates.

“I feel like whenever someone walks up, you just assume that Aubrey is going to save it. And I think the opposition have that sitting in their minds as well,” Morgan said. “Obviously, a lot of [taking] penalties is psychological, … And I feel like when other teams come up against Aubrey, knowing her history and knowing her record, that’s going to sort of linger in the back of the mind and cause a little bit of doubt, which is exactly what we want. So, yeah, credit to ‘Aubs.’ She’s done it time and time again, and thankfully, she was there for us again today.”

“I feel so confident with Aubrey in there. I feel like every time we go into a PK shootout, I’m like, ‘Hmm, she’s got at least two [saves] in her, two or three,” Hershfelt said. “I’m an Aubrey stan through and through. I just feel so good knowing that when we get in those high-stakes moments, we have someone like that in our net. I mean, it’s the best confidence. Even as a PK kicker, I’m like, ‘You know what? I can make this, Aubrey’s got my back, it’s fine.’”

While the result was a devastating end to Racing’s record season, it didn’t erase all that Louisville accomplished throughout the season.

“I would be lying to you if I told you we weren’t sad to not continue on today,” said head coach Bev Yanez. “I also would be lying if I didn’t tell you how proud I am of the group this season and what they were able to accomplish, and how incredible of a season it was. I’m feeling very proud. … Obviously, you take it to penalties, the game can be so incredibly cruel. Unfortunately, we aren’t walking away continuing on today. More importantly, I’d just like to speak about this season, and I think the group should be incredibly proud of everything they’ve accomplished this year.”

Louisville will now look forward to building on its success next season, while Washington will face Sunday’s winner of the quarterfinal matchup between No. 3 seed Portland Thorns and No. 6 San Diego Wave.