The match came three days after Spirit officials said they had reassigned coach Richie Burke to the front office for medical reasons. A day later, though, The Washington Post detailed allegations by former players of verbal and emotional abuse by Burke.
The team subsequently suspended him and opened an investigation. It also barred him from the facilities and from contacting players and staff.
While management embarks on a coaching search, assistants Kris Ward and Paul Crichton were placed in charge of the team, which had lost four of the previous six matches.
The Spirit (5-5-4) seized the initiative and performed with energy and freedom.