As part of its outreach to youth soccer clubs around the area, this season the Washington Spirit announced a drawing in which up to forty area teams would be "adopted" by a Spirit player for one of their practice sessions. Limited to one drawing entry per person, Coach Jim Clark's "Rage" girls and their parents made sure their team had a better-than-average chance to be selected by sending in as many entries as the rules allowed.  As fate would have it, the entry submitted by Team Manager (and former BRYC ODSL Deputy Commissioner) Kimberly Yeo was drawn, and BRYC was paired with the Spirit's star defender, Crystal Dunn, a UNC graduate, the Spirit's first overall pick in this season's college draft, and a member of the U.S. Women's National Team (USNWT), recently called up for for the women's upcoming "friendlies" against France. 

For her first scheduled appearance in early May the weather was frightful....cold, windy, rainy, and then some. Crystal called to say she'd be glad to reschedule.  So on a Thursday evening in late May, after a day practicing with her Spirit teammates, the charming Dunn drove herself down to Annandale and took the helm for the second half of the Rage practice.  You could tell by the expression on their faces that the girls were excited, and when Crystal asked a few of them to "show a move" for the other girls, there was no shying away from the chance to show off for the professional who complimented them all. 

Thanks to Crystal and the Spirit for their youth group initiative.  Many a BRYC Rec and ODSL player has been out to see them play in Maryland already this season, now at close to the half-way point with games scheduled through the end of August.  Unreserved seats are just $20 when using the ticket link on the Washington Spirit page and the pasword "BRYC2014-5".  If you haven't been to a game yet, you owe it to yourself to take one in.  Once you do, you'll want to go back!

For additional photos from the practice session, press Continue below.