Washington Spirit waive Natalie Jacobs, add Taylor Aylmer and Morgan Goff

The Washington Spirit have made three roster moves today, with versatile midfielder/defender Natalie Jacobs being waived and two National Team Replacement Players being signed. Washington has officially announced the addition of midfielder Taylor Aylmer and midfielder/defender Morgan Goff to NTRP deals.

Jacobs’ departure has been reported by Steven Goff of the Washington Post, with multiple sources confirming that report to Black and Red United. In 2021, Jacobs appeared in six total games, with four in the regular season and two in the Challenge Cup, picking up two assists as a defensive midfielder. Last year, mostly looked at as a right back, Jacobs made seven appearances in the Spirit’s nine total Challenge Cup and Fall Series matches.

As Jacobs has been waived, she could be claimed by any team in the NWSL, or end up clearing waivers and signing a deal as a free agent in the league or abroad. With the Spirit having Andi Sullivan, Tori Huster, and Dorian Bailey available and at least four more players who are holding midfield options (Emily Sonnett, Julia Roddar, Karina Rodriguez, and Saori Takarada), Jacobs’ request for a move may boil down to simply wanting a clearer path to regular minutes.

Aylmer finished a career as a four-year starter at Rutgers in 2020 and played as an NTRP for NJ/NY Gotham FC during this year’s Challenge Cup, appearing once. Goff, who played 101 matches at the University of North Carolina, had previously been on trial with the Spirit, and played for Þróttur Reykyavik last year. She is not yet available to play for the Spirit, though, as US Soccer has to receive and process her International Transfer Certificate before Washington can put her in games.

The changes today bring the Spirit up to 26 total players on the active roster, three of whom are NTRPs. That total does not include Averie Collins and Bayley Feist, who are both on the season-ending injury list for 2021 due to torn ACLs suffered in preseason.