Croix Bethune stars for Washington Spirit as a rookie

And the third, the 41st-minute opener in the Spirit’s 2-0 win against NWSL reigning champion Gotham FC on Saturday afternoon at Audi Field, was a solo show. Collecting the ball some 30 yards from goal, the 23-year-old midfielder took a touch to the left, danced around defender Maitane López and rifled a knuckling bid from distance that nestled inside the near post.

A gritty one-two, a free-flowing team tally and an audacious individual effort — for the No. 3 pick in the draft, her three goals for the Spirit (4-1-0) are a scintillating sampling of her potential.

“She’s so creative, but she’s so strong and she’s so smart,” midfielder Andi Sullivan said. “She knows when to play simple, and she knows when to just do her own thing. So I think she’s just absolutely killing it.”

Reflecting on her hot start, Bethune offered a matter-of-fact assessment: “If there’s opportunities, I’m going to take them — and they’re going in.”

Although Hatch converted a 69th-minute penalty to seal Washington’s win over Gotham (1-2-1) before an announced crowd of 15,004, Bethune created the opportunity, cleverly lifting the ball over Gotham’s Sam Hiatt and volleying a shot off the defender’s arm. After initially missing the handball, referee Katja Koroleva awarded the penalty via video review.

For the Spirit, which surged to the top of the NWSL standings ahead of Saturday night’s games, Bethune’s immediate impact vindicated a dice roll on draft day. When Washington sent stalwart defender Sam Staab to Chicago and U.S. national team playmaker Ashley Sanchez to North Carolina in deals to acquire the third and fifth picks, the makeover was plenty surprising. But with Bethune and midfielder Hal Hershfelt — the players selected with those choices — providing five of Washington’s nine goals so far, ammunition is running low for the naysayers.

And Bethune’s contributions have extended beyond the box score. Now that Spirit interim coach Adrián González is implementing a more fluid, possession-oriented style ahead of Jonatan Giráldez’s summer arrival from Barcelona, Bethune’s ability to read the game and expose defensive gaps has proved critical to Washington’s attacking identity.

“We are just starting to build those situations where a player can recognize those spaces and they can make those rotations, they can identify where we want to progress,” González said. “She’s very intelligent. She can identify those spaces.”

That is just one reason Bethune, despite an injury history that includes three torn ACLs, came off the draft board quickly. After racking up 30 goals and 28 assists in 63 NCAA games, spanning three seasons at Southern California and one at Georgia, the U.S. youth international projected as a blue-chip prospect with shifty footwork, fine-tuned technical ability and a high soccer IQ.

Still, Bethune’s prolific production has been eye-opening to many in the NWSL. She remains unfazed.

“I kind of had the confidence,” she said when asked if she expected to endure more of an adjustment period. “I’ve been playing soccer for so long, so this is just another step of my journey that I was ready to take.”

The Spirit, which is on a four-game winning streak since falling at Seattle in its season opener, will return to Audi Field on Friday night to welcome Marta and the unbeaten Orlando Pride (2-0-3). After helping Washington dispatch a Gotham side loaded with national team talent — U.S. regulars Tierna Davidson, Jenna Nighswonger, Emily Sonnett, Lynn Williams and Crystal Dunn saw the field Saturday — the Orlando match is another opportunity for Bethune to impress.

“I’m just so excited for her because it’s early on,” defender Casey Krueger said. “We’re just scratching the surface with her.”

Notes: Davidson, an expected starter for the U.S. squad at this summer’s Paris Olympics, exited in the 21st minute after pulling up and grabbing her leg. …

Spirit rookie Kate Wiesner entered in second-half stoppage time for her first minutes since suffering a thigh injury in the March 17 opener. …

Washington will play three matches away from Audi Field this summer during the inaugural NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup. The Spirit will face Mexico’s Chivas de Guadalajara on July 21 and Gotham on July 28 at Subaru Park in Chester, Pa., then head to Richmond to host the Chicago Red Stars on July 31 at City Stadium.

Ella Brockway contributed to this report.