Just for kicks, Spirit earns another dramatic NWSL playoff win

Esme Morgan made one of the Spirit's three penalty kicks as Washington beat Racing Louisville in the NWSL quarterfinals. (Jamie Sabau/Imagn Images)The Washington Spirit would love to comfortably win a playoff game. Score early. Manage the match. Maybe add an insurance tally, just for kicks.

Yet this Spirit squad seems addicted to drama. A year after advancing to the NWSL final on the strength of an extra-time win and a shootout triumph, the Spirit continued its adrenaline junkie ways with a 3-1 shootout victory after a 1-1 draw in the quarterfinals Saturday afternoon at Audi Field.