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Every week, across several sports, players around the DMV (D.C./Maryland/Virginia) shine in individual performance. Every Monday, I’d like to take a minute to highlight some of those performances, including what I view as the best performance and name that athlete the “DMV Star of the Week.”
This week’s DMV Star of the Week is Washington Spirit Forward Ashley Hatch.
In Saturday’s 2-1 win over North Carolina, Hatch scored a penalty kick goal in the 50th minute that ended up being the game-winner.
The goal is Hatch’s third in as many games in the young 2023 season.
In her career, Hatch has appeared for the United States Women’s National Team 19 times and has netted five goals.
Since joining The Spirit in 2018, she has been a mainstay in the starting lineup. In 2021, she won the NWSL Golden Boot award after scoring 10 goals that season. That same year, she led The Spirit to its only NWSL Championship.
With 3 goals in just three games, Hatch is off and running once again with 19 regular season games still to play.
The DMV saw five teams in action this past week, including the Washington Capitals, Washington Nationals, D.C. United, Washington Spirit and the D.C. Defenders XFL team
Here are some honorable mention performances for DMV Star of the Week:
D.C. United Midfielder Lewis O’Brien netted his first goal of the season in a 1-0 victory over Montreal on Saturday
D.C. Defenders Safety DJ Swearinger had a 62-yard interception return for a touchdown in Sunday’s 28-26 win over Arlington (TX)
Nationals Catcher Keibert Ruiz went 3-4 with 2 RBI’s in Saturday’s loss against Cleveland
Washington Spirit Forward Trinity Rodman scored her second goal of the season in Saturday’s 2-1 win over North Carolina
D.C. United Goalkeeper Tyler Miller held Montreal without a goal in Saturday’s 1-0 win for his second clean-sheet of the season
Here’s what’s coming up this week in DMV Sports:
Washington Nationals (5-11, 5th in NL East, 7 GB)
4/18 vs. Baltimore
4/19 vs. Baltimore
4/21 @ Minnesota
4/22 @ Minnesota
4/23 @ Minnesota
D.C. United: (2-2-4, 8 points, 11th in Eastern Conference)
4/22 @ Orlando City
Washington Spirit: (2-1-0, 7 points, 3rd in NWSL)
4/19 @ Gotham FC (NWSL Challenge Cup - Group Stage)
4/22 vs. Houston
D.C. Defenders: (8-1 overall, 1st in XFL North)
4/22 @ San Antonio
*Denotes games I will be covering in-person
Notes:
The Washington Capitals season came to an end Thursday as the team missed the postseason for the first time since the 2013-14 season. The Caps finish with a record of 35-37-10, its worst year since the 2006-07 season, including losses in 8 of the last 9 games to close out the year.
The D.C. Defenders clinched home-field advantage for the North Division Championship Game with a win on Sunday. The game will take place on April 30 at 3:00 p.m.