Despite tying league records for longest losing streak (five games) and longest winless streak (10 games) through a tumultuous stretch of games in June and July, the Washington Freedom sits in the fourth and final playoff spot in Women's Professional Soccer with just four games to play.

The Freedom have countered that 10-game winless streak with a three game unbeaten streak entering Thursday's critical six point match with the Chicago Red Stars.  Washington has given up just one goal in this three game stretch and that was an 80th minute Cat Whitehill own goal in a 1-1 draw August 11 with Sky Blue FC.

Anchoring that new-found defensive form is rookie goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris, who finds herself in net after Erin McLeod tore her right ACL in a 4-1 loss July 24 to FC Gold Pride.  Harris was signed by Washington June 9 as a free agent after Saint Louis Athletica folded and trained under McLeod until the Canadian international was injured.  The circumstances are unfortunate, but now it is Harris' time to shine.

“For me, I’ve been in pressure situations," Harris said.  "I’ve played at all levels and I don’t really get nervous.  I am her for a reason.  They picked me up for a reason.  I am here to do a job and play to my best ability and hold down the back and I feel like that’s just what I have been doing.  I’ve been going into games confident and knowing that I belong there and just doing my part.  And if I do my part and keep goals out of the back of the net we are either going to tie or win.”

The rookie goalkeeper is fresh off her third national championship with the University of North Carolina and experiences such as NCAA College Cups and two youth World Cups make Harris wise beyond her years.  Harris said she does not feel like a rookie and with just four games left to make the playoffs, there is no time for such thoughts.

“I don’t have time to do that," she said of feeling the pressure.  "I don’t have time for that type of mentality.”

Washington (5-8-7, 22 pts.) ends the season with games against the three teams below the Freedom in the standings: Thursday vs. the Chicago Red Stars, August 28 vs. Sky Blue FC, Sept. 5 at Chicago and Sept. 11 vs. the Atlanta Beat.  The Freedom controls its own destiny and whether or not it can hold off the rest of the pack to claim the final playoff spot will come down to a confident Harris calling the shots in the back.

“Being a rookie, for me, I feel like I don’t act as if I am a rookie," Harris said.  "I mean, I hold everyone to the highest standards.  I am making sure I am communicating and directing everyone where to go.  I can’t get in the goal and be hesitant and not say a word and expect my defense to do everything.  I mean, that’s just not going to happen.  The more I communicate, the more I lead, the more I take charge, the less actually I am going to have to do.”