2015 NWSL Season Preview: Washington Spirit

Key Returners, Preseason Plans, Results

May 11, 2013; Boyds, MD, USA; Washington Spirit midfielder Tori Huster (23) traps the ball during the first half against the Boston Breakers at the Maryland Soccerplex Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Paul Frederiksen-USA TODAY Sports

Perhaps no two active (non-injured, currently signed) Spirit players, aside from goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris, did more to keep Washington in games than Tori Huster and Christine Nairn. The pair quickly emerged as fan favorites, with Huster’s perennial timeliness and grit out of the back line and in the defensive midfield, as well as Nairn’s aptitude for scoring stylish, opportune goals. So it was an obvious move for Parsons to lock up the midfield pair for the 2015 season.

Leadership has never seemed to be lacking for this club, whose inaugural season saw veteran Lori Lindsey as the skipper and Harris as a vocal presence from her position in goal. But Washington will be missing last season’s captain Ali Krieger for much of May and June due to her national team commitments at the World Cup. It’s been great to see that Huster was given the armband during the team’s first preseason match against Virginia Tech on March 21 (the team also played an intra-squad scrimmage on March 14).

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The Spirit have already taken part in a preseason match against Virginia Tech. Four different players (Banini, DaCosta, Nairn, del Rio) scored, and both Banini and DaCosta also tallied an assist. Each of these players will be expected to produce goals during the regular season, so it was tremendous for fans to see them find the back of the net. The transition to the NWSL can be difficult for international players, some of whom struggle to adjust to the speed, pace, and physicality of North American football. That said, Washington fans are being given plenty of room for cautious optimism in the preseason.

Next: Looking Ahead