2014 NWSL: Washington Spirit Preview, Depth Chart & Key Players

2013: 3-5-14 (8th Place)

Head Coach: Mark Parsons

Key Returners: Diana Matheson M (19gp 8g 3a), Lori Lindsey M (21gp 1g 2a), Robyn Gayle (14gp 1a), Ashlyn Harris G (18gp)
Key Newcomers: Christine Nairn M (22gp 3g 5a - Seattle), Ranae Cueller F (18gp 5g - Kansas City), Danesha Adams F (20gp 3g 3a - Sky Blue), Crystal Dunn D (1st pick overall)

Analysis: Despite the efforts of Canadian National Team players Diana Matheson and Robyn Gayle, the Spirit struggled, finishing last in the league in 2013. The Spirt have made some improvements, including drafting Crystal Dunn with the 1st pick overall in the 2014 draft as well as adding Christine Narin, Ranae Cueller and Danesha Adams.

They will hopefully provide some goal scoring, since outside of Matheson’s eight goals last season no other player scored more than two goals for the Spirit during the 2013 season. The club also added Yael Averbuch, who has US National Team experience and Danish international Cecilie Sandvej. On paper, the Spirit are still one of the weaker teams in the league, especially in scoring, with only 22 national team goals among all the players on the roster.

2014 Prediction: 8th Place

Key Players

2014 MLB: Washington Nationals Projected Statistics

WASHINGTON NATIONALS (Stats Projection: 1st NE 88-74 +62 RD)

Player	Age		Pos		.Avg		Gp		Ab		Rn		Ht		Hr		Bi		Sb
SPAN, Denard	29		CF		0.265		144		544		66		144		3		22		14
ZIMMERMAN, Ryan	28		3B		0.279		147		570		85		159		25		82		5
HARPER, Bryce	20		LF		0.276		122		475		84		131		23		75		10
WERTH, Jayson	34		RF		0.301		129		452		79		136		23		75		11
LAROCHE, Adam	33		1B		0.249		152		518		71		129		22		71		3
DESMOND, Ian	27		SS		0.278		158		597		75		166		19		77		21
RENDON, Anthony	23		2B		0.258		112		434		55		112		9		44		2
RAMOS, Wilson	25		C		0.279		122		394		41		110		18		65		0
MCLOUTH, Nate	31		OF		0.262		94		321		44		84		7		31		11
LOMBARDOZZI, Steve	24		3B		0.250		118		244		22		61		1		15		1
HAIRSTON, Scott	33		OF		0.219		85		187		22		41		10		28		3
LOBATON, Jose	28		C		0.265		94		166		22		44		2		17		0
ESPINOSA, Danny	26		IF		0.232		61		112		14		26		1		7		1
CARROLL, Jamey	39		3B		0.236		66		110		15		26		0		6		1

Pitcher	Age		Wn		Ls		Era		Gp		Sv		Ip		Ht		Bb		So
FISTER, Doug	29		13		11		3.59		33		0		208		221		43		153
ZIMMERMANN, Jordan	27		14		10		3.32		32		0		206		190		41		160
GONZALEZ, Gio	27		12		9		3.47		32		0		192		167		79		188
STRASBURG, Stephen	24		12		8		2.97		30		0		179		136		53		195
DETWILER, Ross	27		8		10		4.18		23		0		142		155		41		82
CLIPPARD, Tyler	28		5		3		2.65		72		3		78		46		29		83
SORIANO, Rafael	33		3		4		3.00		68		35		69		61		19		61
STOREN, Drew	25		4		4		4.14		68		8		63		61		19		59
STAMMEN, Craig	29		4		3		3.39		55		0		88		82		26		78
ROARK, Tanner	26		3		2		3.27		11		0		66		55		17		51
BLEVINS, Jerry	29		4		1		3.19		67		0		62		50		19		54