Rachel Kundanandji scores twice as Bay FC beat Dash 3-2 to secure NWSL playoff berth

Rachel Kundanandji scored twice to help the Bay beat the Houston Dash 3-2 on Saturday night and secure a spot in the National Women’s Soccer League playoffs.

Bay (11-14-1) took a 1-0 lead in the 10th minute at Shell Energy Stadium when a Houston defender redirected a free kick into the goal.

Barbara Olivieri responded four minutes later for the Dash (5-16-5), slipping past the defense and firing a shot into the near corner of the post.

Kundananji put Bay ahead again in the 21st minute, pouncing on the ball from a corner kick.

Avery Patterson leveled the score just after the start of the second half, firing a shot into the left corner after beating a defender in the box.

Kundananji scored her second goal in the 54th minute in the singles match and now has five goals and four assists this season.

Dash took last place.

PRIDE 3, KINGDOM 2

Martha scored the winning goal as first-place Orlando Pride beat Seattle Reign 3–2 at Inter & Co. Stadium to finish the season with 18 wins and 60 points, a league record.

The Pride (18-2-6) took the lead in the 9th minute on a goal from Ellie Watt.

Jordyn Huitema responded a minute later, finishing in Ciarra King’s cross to level the score for Reign (6-15-5).

Kerry Abello converted Watt’s cross to give Orlando a 2-1 lead in the 25th minute.

Marta scored her ninth goal of the season in the 57th minute, entering the penalty area and shooting after Rein was unable to stop her.

Newcomer Maddie Mercado scored her first regular-season goal for Reign in the 84th minute, redirecting Veronica Lacko’s cross with her head.

SPIRIT 1, COURAGE 0

Ashley Hatch scored from long range to give the Washington Spirit a 1-0 victory over North Carolina and end the Courage’s 21-game unbeaten streak at WakeMed Soccer Park.

Hatch received the ball in transition and fired into the far post corner from outside the 18-yard box in the 37th minute for her fifth goal in her last eight games.

The win moved the Spirit (18-6-2) into second place and tied them with the Pride with a league-high 18 wins.

For the third year in a row, Kaylee Kurtz played every minute of every game for the Courage (12-11-3).