Bay FC was held scoreless for the first time this season and the first time under coach Emma Coates in a 2-0 loss Sunday to the Washington Spirit at PayPal Park.
After a scoreless first half, Washington got on the board in the 57th minute on an awkward play as Jordan Silkowitz sprinted out of the net to her left to clear a slow-rolling cross, but kicked it off the leg of defender Brooklyn Courtnall. It looped over Silkowitz’s head, off the left post and just across the goal line before a Bay defender could scoop it out.
Applying pressure on the play was former Cal star Paige Metayer, who made an overlapping run down the right sideline.
Bay nearly equalized on a corner kick just a few minutes later as Taylor Huff sent a curling attempt from the left side of the box just wide. Shortly after, Alex Pfeiffer then cut inside for an attempt on the counterattack between two defenders, but it went directly to goalkeeper Sandy MacIver.
“I didn’t think we started well enough, if I’m honest, I don’t think we controlled the game with some of our in-possession play well enough, which impacted the transitions, and that hurt us a little bit today,” said first-year Bay FC coach Emma Coates.
Washington, which earned its first win of the season after making the NWSL final in San Jose last season, dominated play throughout. The Spirit had 62% possession and outshot Bay 20-6, including a 10-1 advantage in attempts on goal.
Shortly after Dorian Bailey missed for Bay on a shot from distance seeking to tie the game late, Washington went out in transition. Trinity Rodman stayed just onside to take a strong shot that Silkowitz saved, but Gift Monday got her left foot ahead of two Bay defenders to poke the ball home and make it 2-0 in the 86th minute.
Bay FC spent much of the early stages hemmed into its own half as Washington outshot the hosts 8-2 in the first half. Bay had a bit more of the ball in the second half, but still could not break through.
Coates, though, came away encouraged by Bay’s better play in the second half.
“We’ve just got to keep believing in what we’re doing,” Coates said. “We’re building something I think really special. We’re building our style of play that is exciting.
“I know the girls are disappointed with the result today, because we just know we weren’t at our best.”
Silkowitz had nine saves in the match, including two significant ones in the first half: a stop at the left post on a low driven shot from Rodman and a dive to her left to stop a Hal Hershfelt shot from the top of the box.
The best scoring chance in the first half didn’t require a save as Washington’s Leicy Santos missed wide left on a wide-open net with Silkowitz scrambling after a low cross. Shortly after, Bay’s Pfeiffer missed on her own half-chance set up by Claire Hutton.
Anouk Denton’s 37th-minute shot from several yards outside the box was one of Bay’s few chances to apply pressure in the first half, but it sailed over the right corner of the net.
Santos stung a volley from outside the box midway through the second half after juggling the ball with her knee, but Silkowitz dived to her right to push the ball wide of the post.
Washington’s Lucia Di Guglielmo and Tara Rudd collided on a header late in the first half, forcing a delay while they were treated. Di Guglielmo walked off with trainers after suffering a gash, while Rudd returned with a dressing on her cut. Metayer subbed on for DiGugliemo just before halftime.
Courtnall picked up a yellow card in the 90th minute when she pulled down Monday at midfield to stop a transition chance.
Bay’s next NWSL match won’t be until April 25, when they visit reigning NWSL champion Gotham FC. PayPal Park will host a friendly between the U.S. women’s national team and Japan next Saturday.