Ashley Hatch as soon as once more got here up clutch for the Washington Spirit on Saturday.
The BYU product scored the lone objective within the Spirit’s 1-0 win over the North Carolina Braveness in Cary, North Carolina.
It was Hatch’s seventh objective of the 2024 season and 53rd of her profession, placing her one wanting tying Jess McDonald for fifth on the NWSL’s all-time scoring record, in keeping with the . Saturday’s objective got here in opposition to the workforce that drafted her second general in 2017.
This season is the fifth consecutive common season by which Hatch has scored a minimum of seven targets. She has achieved the feat each season, apart from her sophomore season — her first with the Spirit.
The objective and win give the Spirit the second seed and residential subject benefit all through the playoffs till the 2024 NWSL Championship at CPKC Stadium in Kansas Metropolis, Missouri.
After being Spirit followers’ hero Saturday, Hatch headed to New York Metropolis to cheer on her husband, Jeff Van Buren, in Sunday’s New York Metropolis Marathon.
Main as much as the race, Hatch shared clips of her husband making ready for the marathon on her social media.
On Sunday, Hatch shared a video of her on the sidelines of the race holding up an indication that learn, “Good job sweetie.”
She then shared a video of her cheering as Van Buren neared the end line. He pointed to his spouse as he ran previous.
“Let’s go, Jeff. Virtually there, Jeff,” she yelled within the video.
Ashley Hatch’s objective scoring surge
It’s been a historic season for Hatch as she has climbed the
She moved from seventh to for sixth and now she’s in sole place of sixth with fifth place simply in sight. Final month, she additionally turned the thirty fifth participant in NWSL historical past to play in 150 video games.
Hatch talked to the about her place within the NWSL report e book and stand up the scoring ladder.
“It positively brings a smile to my face,” Hatch mentioned of her place on the all-time scoring record. “It’s one thing that I’m positive that I’ll admire extra after I’m carried out with my profession and I can look again on it and present my youngsters and stuff. However within the second proper now, I strive not to consider it simply because I’m so targeted on what we’re doing right here. However yeah, it’s enjoyable to see, and it’s fairly cool to be subsequent to a few of these names, for positive.”
This 12 months has additionally include setbacks. Halfway by the season, Hatch was relegated to the bench for eight video games, getting into video games in its place. She has since earned her means again into the beginning lineup and scored 5 targets within the final seven video games.
Throughout her time on the bench, Hatch targeted on being prepared for when the Spirit referred to as her quantity.
“I’ve simply been ensuring that I present up each single day and work actually onerous for no matter alternative I’m given, and so getting the chance to get extra minutes and to begin, I’ve been tremendous hungry for it and simply prepared and ready for any alternative,” Hatch mentioned. “I believe that’s the place it’s coming from. It’s simply numerous onerous work each single day at coaching and simply being hungry for any alternative.”
Hatch and the Spirit will host growth workforce Bay FC within the quarterfinals of the 2024 NWSL playoffs on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. MST on ABC.
