LOS ANGELES, CA (August 16, 2026) - Midfielder Ally Sentnor scored her first goal for Angel City Football Club (ACFC), helping the team to a 1-1 draw against the Washington Spirit Sunday night at BMO Stadium. It was Angel City’s third consecutive draw, earning the club another crucial point as it continues its playoff push.
“Our performance today is very promising, and I'm proud of the way we played,” said Interim Head Coach Leif Smerud. “We went for it in the end. We really wanted to win here, and that’s the attitude we want to see in Angel City - going for it and playing that kind of football.”
Sentnor delivered the equalizer in the 85th minute. She received a pass from defender Savy King at the left side of the 18-yard box and dribbled laterally for a few steps before launching an outward-curling shot that found the top-right corner of the Washington net.
“I honestly just felt a lot of momentum in this game,” Sentnor said. “I got a goal disallowed early on, so I was crediting this team and the staff for really allowing me to be my true self – taking shots and taking chances and allowing me the opportunities to do that, fail or succeed.”
King earned the assist in her first match for ACFC since April 3. She entered the match at left back in the 66th minute and set up Sentnor with her first-ever goal contribution for Angel City.
“It's really hard going through recovery, especially one that’s long-term,” King said, adding, “Angel City, all the girls, all of our staff and all of our fans have just been incredible [in providing me] with the motivation to get back out there.”
Forward Trinity Rodman scored the opening goal of the match in the 65th minute. She dribbled into the left side of the penalty box and gave the Spirit the 1-0 lead with a high shot from the near post.
But the Angel City defense limited the Spirit from getting too many good looks on net for the remainder of the half.
King contributed as part of that defensive effort, making a sliding tackle at the right post to block a dangerous cross from Spirit defender Paige Metayer in the 90th minute.
“We say it about all our players coming in: if you can make that difference and you can make those tackles and bring that energy, that's what’s going to win us games further along this season,” Sentnor said.
Sentnor had a strong second half and had several chances leading up to her equalizing tally.
She threatened to score in the 71st minute, dribbling into the eighteen-yard box and firing a low shot that forced a two-handed save from Spirit goalkeeper Sandy MacIver.
Forward Taylor Suarez earned a corner for ACFC in the 77th minute. On the ensuing set piece, Sentnor delivered an inswinging cross that forced MacIver to come off her line to push the ball away.
In the 81st minute, Sentnor set up Suarez at the edge of the six-yard box for a goal-scoring chance. Suarez appeared to be in on net, but a late sliding tackle by the Spirit limited the threat.
Just moments later, Sentnor launched a right-footed shot from the top of the penalty box that forced MacIver to make a diving stop, earning ACFC a corner.
She would eventually score from a very similar angle.
“The way [Sentnor has] been focused on improving and working on what she can control has impressed me,” Smerud said, adding, “She can shoot like very few players, and we saw it today. So she just has to keep working, and now she can relax a bit more. She’s had her first goal, and I’m 100 percent sure there will [be] plenty more.”
The two teams played a relatively even first half. Although Washington held the edge in possession, ACFC matched the Spirit with five shots and came close to taking the lead.
Sentnor appeared to have opened the scoring for Angel City in the 37th minute, launching a shot past MacIver and into the right side of the net. However, the play was ultimately overturned after a review initiated by the video assistant referee found a hand ball violation in the lead-up to Sentnor’s shot.
Meanwhile, ACFC goalkeeper Angelina Anderson played an important role in keeping the Spirit off the scoresheet. She made a goal-saving play against Washington midfielder Hal Hershfelt in the 29th minute, getting low to fight off a shot from close range.
“I give credit to the leaders on the team because they really picked us back up and [said], ‘It doesn't matter. We’re going to get another one,’” Sentnor said, adding, “We could have easily dropped the level, but we came back – and I think we could have scored a few more goals as well.”
Forward Prisca Chilufya made her first start of the season and put considerable pressure on the Spirit back line in the opening 20 minutes.
The Zambian attacker got an opportunity off of a turnover in the fifth minute. Her high rocket from the right side gave MacIver a scare but sailed just over the crossbar.
Chilufya had another shot attempt in the 12th minute from very close range after midfielder Carina Lageyre found her at the edge of the six-yard box. But Chilufya’s low shot went just wide of the right post.
“Prisca has some skills and strengths that she showed today, and I'm really happy with the way she attacked the game,” Smerud said.
Captain Sarah Gorden made her 150th start, becoming one of 30 players in NWSL history to have reached that mark.
Forward Sydney Leroux returned to pitch for the first time since the club’s 2024 season after being placed back on the active roster. Leroux, who entered the match in second-half stoppage time, has been with the club since its inaugural season in 2022 and is one of three remaining original players from the NWSL’s first season.
“It’s great to have [Leroux] back on the field,” King said. “She is an absolutely incredible person and player, and it's just been incredible to watch her journey. We’ve been training a lot as we both made our way back onto the field, so she’s been a huge part of my recovery as well.”
ACFC will next face Gotham FC at BMO Stadium at 5 p.m. Pacific Time on Sunday, Aug. 23. The match will be televised on ION and locally on Victory+.
