Bay FC’s debut season in the NWSL came to an end on Sunday afternoon in a dramatic 2-1 extra time loss to the Washington Spirit in the quarterfinals of the 2024 NWSL Playoffs. The game at Audi Field was a heartbreaker, with Bay FC showing resilience but falling short in the final moments.

The match had a historic moment when Asisat Oshoala scored Bay FC’s first-ever playoff goal in the 82nd minute. Penelope Hocking set up the goal with a perfect assist, giving Bay FC a 1-0 lead. But the Spirit responded just minutes later, with Tara McKeown finding the net in the 86th minute to tie the game and send it into extra time.

In the 96th minute of extra time, a Bay FC own goal sealed their fate. Caprice Dydasco tried to clear a cross from Trinity Rodman, but her header ended up in her own net, giving the Spirit the lead. Despite some last-minute attempts to equalize, Bay FC couldn’t find a way through, and the game ended in a tough 2-1 loss.

There were a number of firsts and milestones for Bay FC during the match. Alongside Oshoala’s historic goal, Hocking earned the team’s first-ever playoff assist in her debut postseason game. Six other players also made their NWSL playoff debut, including Oshoala, Maddie Moreau, Deyna Castellanos, and Racheal Kundananji. Additionally, defenders Abby Dahlkemper and Emily Menges reached a major milestone, each playing in their 10th career NWSL playoff match.

Despite the loss, Bay FC can look back on their inaugural season with pride. They finished with 11 wins, the most by any expansion team in NWSL history, and recorded 31 goals, the second-most by an expansion team. Oshoala ended the regular season as the team’s top scorer with seven goals, while Racheal Kundananji led in assists with four.

Though Bay FC’s playoff run ended in disappointment, their remarkable first season sets a solid foundation for the future.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLEbkHFeTiI?si=bCbTMZVxF7aKqrNP