Spirit announce 2019 preseason schedule

Three college sides and French club Girondins Bordeaux make up Washington’s preseason slate

The Washington Spirit have finalized a preseason schedule for 2019 that includes some international flair. FC Girondins de Bordeaux, currently sitting in 3rd place in France’s Division 1 Féminine, will join three NCAA sides on the list of Spirit opponents in their build-up to the 2019 NWSL regular season. Washington, after successful preseason games in Virginia over the last two years, will once again mix in trips to Richmond and Leesburg to go with two matches at the Maryland SoccerPlex.

The Spirit will open their preseason schedule on February 16, facing James Madison University at Richmond’s City Stadium. As was the case last year, the match will coincide with the Jefferson Cup, a prestigious youth tournament. Last year, Washington’s game against the North Carolina Courage drew over 6,000 fans to the longtime home of the Richmond Kickers.

A week later, the Spirit will be on more familiar turf, hosting Bordeaux at the Plex. Bordeaux currently has France national team players Claire Lavogez and Viviane Asseyi on its roster, as well as New Zealand’s longtime starting goalkeeper Erin Nayler. Washington will also host Virginia Tech at the Plex on April 6, which will mark their final preseason game before the NWSL season kicks off on April 13.

Between those games, they’ll face the North Carolina Tar Heels, a frequent preseason foe in recent years. That game will take place at the Evergreen Sportsplex in Leesburg, a venue that the Spirit have previously seemed quite happy to play at due in part to drawing strong preseason attendance there. On both previous visits, the Spirit have sold out the 2,000 seat venue, which is quite close to Loudoun United’s future home.