Statement win for Racing, Bay’s futility continues – Equalizer Soccer

© Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images

Three weeks to go in the National Women’s Soccer League regular season, and things are as tight as they’ve ever been at this point in the season. Ten teams are mathematically alive for the final six playoff spots. Nine teams remain in the running to join the Kansas City Current as quarterfinal hosts. And the roster freeze date is not until Thursday (October 9).

Here’s how the clubs shape up after most of Week 23.

Cream of the Crop

z-Kansas City Current (19-2-2, 56 pts; @ Angel City, 1-0): Even the B-team doesn’t lose or concede goals. Mary Long made her first NWSL start, Katie Scott her second and Alex Pfeiffer her first of the season. Temwa Chawinga did not dress. No matter. The Current’s 1-0 win away to Angel City was their 19th, establishing a new single-season standard for the NWSL. The shutout brought the goals against average back under 0.50 with 11 goals conceded in 23 matches. Lorena now has 13 shutouts to tie a league record.

Title contenders

x-Washington Spirit (12-4-7, 43 pts; vs Wave, 2-1): They had it. And then they didn’t. And then they did. On an afternoon when finishing was not in vogue for the Spirit, they didn’t let a stoppage time equalizer deter them. They pushed forward after that and stole the win back on Rose Kouassi’s looping shot from distance that went over Kailen Sheridan’s head into the far corner. They appear