Trinity Rodman and Ashley Sanchez scored in a thrilling comeback victory that puts the Spirit within one win of their first-ever championship. The Washington Spirit continued their great season Sunday in the NWSL playoffs, defeating the OL Reign 2-1. The Spirit overcame an early strike from Eugénie Le Sommer with two goals from Trinity Rodman and Ashley Sanchez, and a tenacious defensive performance earned them only their third playoff win in franchise history. Megan Rapinoe assisted the game's first goal with a low ball to the back post that Eugénie Le Sommer brilliantly timed to offer her a simple tap-in after eluding her defenders.

Washington was stumbling, with Rapinoe shooting wide after nice work from Jess Fishlock, but in the 11th minute, they were level. The Reign gave Sam Staab enough time to measure a ball over the top, which was a prescription for catastrophe, as it had been all season. Rodman's runoff Lauren Barnes' shoulder was picked out by Staab, and the Rookie of the Year frontrunner took care of the rest, beating Bouhaddi to the ball and softly guiding it home from just inside the box. In the 66th minute, a great Reign sequence set up Le Sommer, but despite having plenty of room, she missed her low shot well wide. It was a blunder that the hosts would come to rue, as Sanchez scored a miracle goal two minutes later. Sanchez picked up Sullivan's corner near the end line after it was knocked down. After a failed first attempt, Sanchez used the outside of her foot to beautifully curl the ball over Bouhaddi and just inside the opposite post with defenders lurking.

The win qualifies the Spirit for the NWSL Championship, which will be held at Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville on Saturday.

[Photography by ICONIC photographer Jackie Shinstrom]