OL Reign 1
San Diego Wave FC 0
May 29, 2022 – NWSL Regular Season
Seattle, WA – Lumen Field

OL Reign hosted table topping San Diego Wave on Sunday afternoon in Seattle.

For the hosts, it was the end of a brisk three match home stand and a chance to get 7 points from those three matches and be in much better shape in the table.

The visitors were making their first regular season appearance in Seattle, having been defeated in the Challenge Cup this spring 1-3.

Both sides were are near or full strength, with the Reign missing Megan Rapinoe.

Much of the Reign’s early season has been a lack of finishing, not a lack of creating opportunities or possession. They have managed multiple clean sheets, which has allowed them to at least grab single points when the finishing has not materialized.

The first half for the home side was a continuation of creating chances, but not getting goals. San Diego was doing a nice job of absorbing and creating some chances on the counter, but also was not seemingly too concerned about the ball being primarily in their own defensive end.

The Wave took their chances forward when opportunities presented, but the patience they were displaying was serving them early in as the match approached the interval goalless. An entertaining first half had ended without a ball in the back of the net.

Laura Harvey is prone to repeating about how much goals change games. San Diego had managed to weather 75 minutes of Seattle not being able to convert, absorbing a lot of pressure and countering with some good chances as the match wore on.

Then, a set piece from the right flank from Sofia Huerta found the diving Rose LaVelle and suddenly the goalless drama was over.

San Diego is top of the table in the early going because of their ability to get the ball to their runners up front that can score quickly. They had plenty of time to work with.

Goals continue to be at a premium for Seattle. However, this clean sheet completes the home stand without conceding, meaning that even though they only netted two goals on the week in three matches, they still grab seven huge points in the standings.

In spite of dropping the match, San Diego remains atop the NWSL standings as of this match. The Wave were dangerous at times and held off the hosts for much of the match. The expansion side looks set to be tough out of the gates as a franchise.

NOTES

OL Reign celebrated the 150th league match of Jess Fishlock prior to the match.

Kim Little is returning to Seattle, to begin playing for the OL Reign in June, returning to the club after several seasons back with Arsenal.

BOX

Scoring

RGN: Lavelle – 75’
SD: None

Discipline

RGN: Hiatt (Caution – 23’)
SD: McGrady (Caution – 71’)

Lineups

RGN: GK Tullis-Joyce, D Lopez, D Hiatt, D Cook, D Huerta, M Quinn, M Fishlock (Watt 62’), M Van der Jagt, F Latsko (King 72’), F Lavelle, F Balcer
Unused substitutes: GK Ivory, D Barnes, D Miramontez, M Athens, M Angelina, M Stanton, D McClernon

Total Shots: 14 (Balcer, Lavelle – 3)
Shots on Goal: 4 (Lavelle – 2)
Fouls: 10 (Three tied with – 2)
Offsides: 2
Corner Kicks: 1
Saves: 3 (Tullis-Joyce – 3)

SD: GK Sheridan, D McGrady, D Girma, D Riehl, D McNabb, D Westphal, M Van Egmond, M Kornieck (Schimmer 87’), M Taylor (Turnbow 62’) F Jakobsson (Ali 62’), F Morgan
Unused substitutes: F Doniak, M Briede, M Pulver, D Gyau, D Hansen, GK Lowder

Total Shots: 6 (Kornieck – 2)
Shots on Goal: 3 (Kornieck – 2)
Fouls: 7 (McNabb – 2)
Offsides: 2
Corner Kicks: 5
Saves: 3 (Sheridan – 3)

Referee: Brandon Stevis
Assistant Referee 1: Alicia Messer
Assistant Referee 2: Melissa Gonzalez
4th Official: Gloria Resendiz

OL Reign 0
Washington Spirit 0
May 22, 2022 – NWSL Regular Season
Lumen Field – Seattle, WA

OL Reign hosted Washington Spirit in Sunday afternoon NWSL action. With both sides in need of early season points it was set to be as big a match as either club could have in May.

The host Reign were beginning a three match in 8 day stretch with a lot of home points there to grab. The visiting Spirit were coming off a midweek match and playing on short rest.

The first half score line was balanced, the hosts having more of the possession and some more chances. However, the Spirit created a number of dangerous opportunities and pressures on Reign keeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce.

Washington worked to get Trinity Rodman isolated on the right flank, and on a few occasions she got around the corner and got crosses off, but the central defense was there to clog up those and other opportunities.

OL had much of their attacking opportunities on the right flank through Veronica Latsko pushing forward. As the midfield was a generally difficult trek to get through, pushing the ball wide or diagonal became the areas where opportunity was most available.

The Reign brought Megan Rapinoe on to begin the second half and she immediately got involved in the offence, created a cross and getting a solid shot on goal in the first minutes. Ally Watt also came on and was a threat for more direct play, striding through to get a few looks. The Washington defense held up very often, and many chances were stifled by defenders converging and shutting down lanes.

There were a number of points where a single goal might have opened up the match, but in the end the goalless draw was simply the result of two good defenses stifling two good offenses on the day.

An entertaining match with a lot of end to end play. A frustrating point for both sides. Each needed three and neither got it.

The Reign looked very good at times, taking many shots, but not getting a goal means it was points dropped. For a traveling Spirit side, keeping a clean sheet on the road was a point grabbed.

The hosts have to put the good performance but lack of goals behind them quickly, as two matches are clustered in the coming week and home.

BOX

Scoring

RGN: None
WAS: None

Discipline

RGN: Van der Jagt (Caution – 74’)
WAS: Rodman (Caution – 71’)

Lineups

RGN: GK Tullis-Joyce, D Barnes ©, D Hiatt, D Cook, D Huerta, M Quinn (Miramontez 87’), M Fishlock, M Lavelle (Van der Jagt 71’), F Latsko (Watt 61’), F Angelina (Rapinoe 46’ (King 87’)), F Balcer (Stanton 90+7’)
Unused substitutes: GK Ivory, D Lopez, D McClernon

Total Shots: 20 (Latsko – 5)
Shots on Goal: 8 (Watt – 3)
Fouls: 8 (Fishlock, Balcer – 2)
Offsides: 2
Corner Kicks: 7
Saves: 2 (Tullis-Joyce – 2)

WAS: GK Kingsbury, D Biegalski, D Staab, D Sonnett, D Heilferty (Sullivan 62’), M Roddar (Brooks 77’), M Aylmer (O’Hara 62’), M Feist (Alexander 70’), F Hatch (Elwell 69’), F Rodman (Harding 77’), F Sanchez
Unused substitutes: D Rodriguez, D Goff, GK Kerr

Total Shots: 7 (Sanchez – 2)
Shots on Goal: 2 (Sanchez – 1)
Fouls: 10 (Roddar, Hatch – 2)
Offsides: 3
Corner Kicks: 3
Saves: 8 (Kingbury – 8)

Referee: Samantha Martinez
Assistant Referee 1: Melissa Beck
Assistant Referee 2: Bennett Savage
4th Official: Christopher Calderon