OL Reign 2
Utah Royals FC 2
September 26, 2020 – NWSL Fall Series (OL Reign Matchday 1)
Rio Tinto Stadium – Sandy, UT
In what should have been the second match for OL Reign in the Fall Series, the club made the trek back to Utah to face Royals FC.
With several players on loan, mostly starters, OL Reign still managed to field a line up of club and NWSL experienced players.
Utah has gone through much as an organization in recent weeks. For some sides that means a lack of preparation and distraction, and for others the game becomes a refuge. Utah scored in the 9th minute on an Aminata Diallo shot through traffic from outside the box to get the game going early.
The early third of the match up to the hydration break was played wide open. Utah grabbed a Tziarra King second and Bethany Balcer replied at the restart. Rosie White equalized shortly after. With the match at 2-2 after only 29 minutes, the low scoring of the summer tournament was quickly a thing of the past.
With the match remaining level going into the interval, both sides could reset.
The match tightened as the second half progressed. With it remaining level at the second hydration break and both sides utilizing a few subs for fresh legs, the final 15 had the potential to be interesting.
Despite attempts on each goal, the match ended in a 2-2 draw.
Match Report
Match: OL Reign vs. Utah Royals FC
Date: September 26, 2020
Venue: Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, Utah
Kickoff: 12:30 p.m. PT
Weather: 71 degrees, mostly sunny
Goals by half 1 2 Total
RGN 2 0 2
UTA 2 0 2
Scoring Summary
UTA – Aminata Diallo 9’
UTA – Tziarra King (Brittany Ratcliffe) 22’
RGN – Bethany Balcer (Steph Cox) 23’
RGN – Rosie White (Jasmyne Spencer) 28’
Misconduct Summary
RGN – Rosie White (caution) 66’
Lineups & Stats
RGN: GK Casey Murphy, D Steph Cox, D Kristen McNabb (Madison Hammond 76’), D Amber Brooks, D Taylor Smith, M Allie Long (Dani Weatherholt 46’), M Rosie White, M Shirley Cruz (Morgan Andrews 70’), F Jasmyne Spencer (Leah Pruitt 70’), F Sofia Huerta, F Bethany Balcer
Substitutes Not Used: GK Michelle Betos, D Kimberly Hazlett
Head Coach: Farid Benstiti
Shots: 10
Shots on goal: 2
Fouls: 11
Corner kicks: 5
Saves: 6
UTA: GK Melissa Lowder, D Mallory Weber, D Kate Del Fava, D Elizabeth Ball, D Katie Bowen, M Verónica Boquete, M Aminata Diallo (Gaby Vincent 46’), M Lo’eau LaBonta, F Tziarra King, F Amy Rodriguez (Arielle Ship 64’), F Brittany Ratcliffe (Raisa Strom-Okimoto 78’)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Abby Smith, D Madeline Nolf, D Taylor Leach, M Taylor Lytle
Head Coach: Amy LePeilbet
Shots: 14
Shots on goal: 8
Fouls: 9
Corner kicks: 3
Saves: 0
