On Sunday, Washington Spirit surged to the summit of the NWSL standings by securing a 2-1 victory against Boston Legacy FC at Centreville Bank Stadium. This triumph marked the Spirit’s ninth win in 15 matches this season, overcoming a late rally from Boston’s Sammy Smith.
The opening goal arrived in the 25th minute when Spirit defender Tara Rudd capitalized on a precise delivery from midfielder Leicy Santos. Santos’ cross found Rudd, who rose above the defense to head the ball past Boston Legacy goalkeeper Casey Murphy, giving Washington an early advantage.
Mere minutes later, the Spirit doubled their lead. Trinity Rodman was played through the backline by Gift Monday and calmly finished to notch her seventh goal of the 2026 campaign, extending the visitors’ lead to 2-0.
Sammy Smith Scores Late Goal for Boston Legacy FC
Despite trailing, Boston’s expansion team pressed aggressively in the second half, forcing several crucial saves from Spirit goalkeeper Sandy MacIver. Their persistent efforts paid off in the 88th minute when Sammy Smith converted a sharp finish. Receiving a pass from Emerson Elgin on the left side of the penalty area, Smith slotted the ball into the far corner, narrowing the deficit.
However, Washington’s defense held strong through stoppage time, preserving the lead and securing the three points on the road.