Denver Summit FC held league-leading Washington scoreless through 60 minutes on Sunday night but eventually fell on the road, 1-0.
The match pitted U.S. women’s national team teammates Lindsey Heaps and Trinity Rodman against each other, with Rodman assisting on Sofia Cantore’s goal in the 61st minute to propel the Spirit to the victory at Audi Field.
Sunday’s match was just Heaps’ second with her hometown expansion club in the NWSL after transferring from French club OL Lyonnes this month. Summit FC (5-6-4) had earlier hosted the Spirit (10-3-3) in March for its inaugural home opener, which drew a record 63,000 fans to Empower Field at Mile High — setting a new NWSL attendance record. That match ended in a scoreless draw.
Summit’s Ayo Oke and Eva Gaetino received yellow cards for tackles on Rodman, who had scored 12 goals in her last 11 matches entering Sunday.
Heaps looked like she would get the chance to tie the match late in the second half after earning a penalty in the box following a collision with the Spirit’s Tara Rudd and Rebeca Bernal, but a video review overturned the call.
Denver Summit FC was held to one shot on goal despite 35 touches in the box.
Washington leads the National Women’s Soccer League with 33 points, while Summit FC sits 11th in the league standings. The top eight teams make the playoffs.
Summit FC, with 19 points, is three points back of Angel City FC for the final playoff spot, with the North Carolina Courage (21 points) in ninth and Seattle Reign FC in 10th (20).
Sunday night marked the fifth time this season that the Spirit has been kept scoreless through the first half.
Denver’s Abby Smith had five saves in the loss. It was her fourth match this season with as many or more saves.
