OL Reign 4
NJ/NY Gotham FC 1
NWSL Regular Season
August 14, 2022
Seattle, WA – Lumen Field

OL Reign played host to NJ/NY Gotham FC on a sunny Sunday afternoon in Seattle.

Gotham was playing its first match since parting ways with its head coach earlier in the week. Interim head coach Hue Menzies would also be without a couple of starters on the cross country trip.

The Seattle side entered the match at mostly full strength, being able to start a mostly preferred eleven. The match was an opportunity for Reign head coach Laura Harvey to become the winningest in league history.

As in many of the Reign home matches, they came out with a great deal of early pressure, creating chances. The Reign defense has needed to be staunch as the chances have been there but not the goals.

It did not take long for the Reign to break through. Rose LaVelle got in behind and through the Gotham defense in the 15th minute and blasted a left footed volley past Gotham keeper Michelle Betos. The challenge for the hosts moving forward would be could they expand their lead or would their defense have to hold a single goal lead.

Much of the first half was the Reign pressing, Gotham fighting to defend, taking counters when they could.

A 42nd minute penalty converted by Reign forward Megan Rapinoe would make it two nil going into the half. For an offense searching for goals of late, the late first half penalty finally gave the hosts a two goal first half for the first time since early May.

The second half continued the Seattle side bringing pressure. Both sides brought on fresh legs, Tobin Heath getting her longest run since joining the Reign coming on at the half.

Eventually, the pressure from the OL Reign offense broke through with a third goal. Jordyn Huitema managed to post up in the penalty area, and after receiving a long throw in, dropped a lay off pass to an unmarked Megan Rapinoe in full stride for a one touch right footed goal.

Gotham got one right back, Taylor Smith pounced on a soft defensive pass, taking the chance and cutting the lead. Unfortunately for Gotham, an own goal would follow moments later and the three goal margin returned with 15 minutes remaining.

The 4-1 score line would ultimately hold up. OL Reign would grab three big points on the day.

OL Reign 1
Houston Dash 2
August 7, 2022
NWSL Regular Season
Seattle, WA – Lumen Field

Houston Dash made their first 2022 visit to the Pacific Northwest to play OL Reign at Lumen Field in Seattle on hot and sunny Sunday afternoon.

The clubs entered the match level on points and above the playoff line, but with Houston having a match in hand. As the playoff run in is ongoing, the head to head match in August felt additionally important.

Houston has now played a few matches under a new interim coach, altering any real ability of the Reign to really scout much more than the past few matches. The Dash came out and played with confidence, but with the hosts having more of the early play in possession trying to break through.

OL Reign did break through in the early going, Kim Little sent a diagonal through ball to Megan Rapinoe, Rapinoe then scoring her first goal of the 2022 season on a left footed volley to the far post past Houston keeper Jane Campbell. Reign coach Laura Harvey was clear she felt her side needs to be more ruthless in front of goal than they have been. The side has been creating chances, but goals have at times been at a premium despite those numerous opportunities.

The Seattle side continued to claim much of the first half possession. Houston did create chances in transition and came close on some mid half corners.

The Dash would pick up a couple of first half yellow cards, as Seattle picked up the pressure after the goal, looking to extend their first half lead.

The match went into the interval with the single goal margin.

The biggest question out of the interval would be whether the hosts would rue only scoring one first half goal in spite of a significant statistical advantage. Houston had weathered much of the first half attack and only a single goal would level the match.

In the 53rd minute Houston would level, as Ebony Salmon converted a penalty. A hand ball call gave the Dash the opportunity and they made the Reign pay. Moments later Salmon would score on a quick counter on the restart and suddenly the home side was down a goal instead of leading.

The final third of the match saw the Reign bring on Tobin Heath and other changes, to try and alter the sudden reversal of fortunes.

Houston not only reversed the score line, but halftime adjustments clearly changed the dynamic of the match, as the Reign did not find nearly as much success creating chances from their possession in the second half.

Houston saw out the match, defending strong against a fierce Reign pressure for a first ever win in Seattle. These are three big points for both clubs. Houston grabbed a three point lead now on the Reign, still with that game in hand. These are three big points dropped by the Seattle club.

The match was also the final match in Seattle for the Reign with Kim Little. Little’s loan from Arsenal was completed and she will be returning to London for the 2022-23 WSL season.

OL Reign head Coach Laura Harvey entered and ended the match tied for all time NWSL wins.

BOX

RGN: Rapinoe – 16’
HOU: Salmon – 53’, 55’

Discipline

RGN: Huitema (Caution – 41’), Quinn (Caution – 52’), Barnes (Caution – 64’), Lopez (Caution – 86’)
HOU: Prisock (Caution – 19’), Chapman (Caution – 37’), Groom (Caution – 65’)

Lineups

RGN: GK Tullis-Joyce, D Huerta, D Cook, D Lopez (Latsko 89’), D Barnes, M Fishlock, M Quinn (Stanton 63’), M Little, M Van der Jagt (Watt 76’), F Huitema (Heath 63’), F Rapinoe
Unused substitutes: GK Ivory, D McClernon, D Miramontez, F King, M Stanton, D Hiatt

Total Shots: 10 (Rapinoe – 5)
Shots on Goal: 6 (Fishlock – 3)
Fouls: 11 (Huitema – 4)
Offsides: 7
Corner Kicks: 2
Saves: 1 (Tullis-Joyce 1)

HOU: GK Campbell, D Chapman, D Prisock, D Naughton, D Jacobs (Hanson 46’), D Sanchez (Gareis 80’) M Viggiano, M Schmidt, M Groom (Ogle 68’), F Salmon (Abam 80’), F Prince (Eddy 90+3’)
Unused substitutes: M Visalli, GK Harris, D Alozie, F Farquharson

Total Shots: 7 (Sanchez, Salmon – 2)
Shots on Goal: 3 (Salmon – 2)
Fouls: 11 (Groom – 3)
Offsides: 2
Corner Kicks: 4
Saves: 12 (Campbell – 5)

Referee: Danielle Chesky
Assistant Referee 1: Christian Clerc
Assistant Referee 2: CJ Koll
4th Official: Gloria Resendizavelle (USA)