WASHINGTON  — Rookie defender Tori Hansen scored at the 10-minute mark to put Orlando up early, but the Pride lost to the Washington Spirit 4-2 in an NWSL Challenge Cup game on Wednesday night.

“Thais [Reiss] played a great ball in and, honestly, I thought I was going to head it in,” Hansen said. “Then I think I headed it and there was a big jumble. Then the ball was at my feet, and I just tapped it with my back heel and it went in. So, I was very happy about that.” 

Near the start of the second half, forward Ally Watt sent a shot into the bottom-right corner of the net for the second Pride goal.

The Spirit (1-1-0, 3 points) got goals from Lena Silano, Sam Staab, Marissa Sheva and Ashley Sanchez, including the final score in extra time.

“You never want to lose a game by four goals,” Pride coach Seb Hines said. “It’s a hard one because we took a lead. Tori [Hansen] scored a terrific goal, and you go one-nil up early in the game. You’re looking for the team to manage it from that moment, and I don’t think we did; I don’t think we managed the game too well.”

Forwards Amanda Allen and Haley Bugeja and defender Brianna Martinez made their first starts for the Pride (0-1-1, 1 point).

“We saw this [game] as an opportunity to play a lot of the players who haven't been playing minutes in the [regular] season,” Hines said. “It's a tough environment to come to. And I thought there was some really good performances out there, as well.”

In NWSL Challenge Cup play, games are interspersed throughout the season. Teams are not eliminated from Cup competition by a single loss. At the end of round-robin play, the top four teams in Challenge Cup play advance to the semifinals, which will take place in September.

The Pride return to league action Sunday, traveling to face NJ/NY Gotham FC at 5:30 p.m. EDT at Red Bull Arena.