Seattle Reign FC 0
Orlando Pride 0
April 12, 2025
Lumen Field – Seattle, WA
NWSL Regular Season

Lee Pate photos

NWSL Champions Orlando Pride crossed the country to the chilly Pacific Northwest for a Saturday tilt against Seattle Reign FC. With nine of nine possible points, the Pride are off to a roaring start.

The host Reign have looked a different side than in 2024, earning four points through gritty play. Looking to return to the normalcy of playoffs and contending with some early momentum will go a long way towards reducing supporter angst after the 2024 campaign. Seattle are looking to really get their 2025 going with points against the champs.

Orlando quickly showed the class they have. A third minute push down the right flank led to a dangerous near post drive that Reign keeper Claudia Dickey did well to smother. Much of the first half was a continuation of this as the Pride offence would pick and poke from different angles. The Reign defense did well to bend and scrap and fend off the Pride attacks.

Seattle would get a number of chances on the counter. Forwards Nérilia Mondesir and Jordyn Huitema were frequent targets of the Seattle midfield, looking to utilize their speed to get over or around the Pride defense.

Dickey would face several first half challenges. Reign defenders did well to restrict the Orlando chances much of the half. Orlando’s dangerous attack would eventually get through. The visitor’s would break through with a Barbra Banda left-footed close range goal off a low cross from Summer Yates. Yates would come off after the play with what appeared to be an injured ankle.

Orlando remained up a goal at the half. Seattle had good moments, but their scrappy defense had let one in.

Seattle had to feel unlucky to have conceded late in the half, but they came out fighting to open the second. The Reign would push, bringing on the Reign debut of Lynn Biyendolo. Biyendolo would act as a target, giving the Reign both a target striker type and playmaker up top.

The Reign pressed for much of the second half, creating many chances but not breaking through.

The young Seattle midfield managed to hold back much of the Pride attack up the middle. The Reign would find opportunities up to the end, taking shots from range and having a few dangerous set pieces. In the end, banda’s goal would hold and the Pride move to twelve points from four matches.

Orlando is the defending champions and did enough to win. They got their goal and then defended well enough to take the points.

Seattle may not have scored or grabbed the points, but this was a different type of match and loss than what plagued the club in 2024.

A very young line up and some debut performances with several veterans unavailable could have been a disaster for Coach Laura Harvey’s side. The young Reign took it right at the champions and were not rewarded with an equalizer. They will have to take the performance momentum with them with the home half of the Cascadia Derby on Friday at home against the Thorns.

BOX

Referees: Greg Dopka
Assistants: Seth Martin, Peter Hanson
Fourth Official: Kelsey Harms
VAR: Katja Koroleva

Attendance: 7,721
Weather: 53 degrees and partly cloudy

SCORING SUMMARY
ORL – Barbra Banda 41’

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
None

LINEUPS & STATS

Seattle Reign FC – Claudia Dickey; Lauren Barnes © (Ana-Maria Crnogorčević), Phoebe McClernon, Jordyn Bugg, Madison Curry (Emeri Adames 79’); Maddie Mercado (Shae Holmes 69’), Ainsley McCammon (Angharad James-Turner 69’), Sam Meza; Maddie Dahlien, Jordyn Huitema (Lynn Biyendolo 45’), Nérilia Mondesir
Substitutes not used: Cassie Miller, Emily Mason, Sally Menti, Olivia Van der Jagt
Total shots: 13
Shots on goal: 5
Fouls: 8
Offside: 1
Corner-Kicks: 3
Saves: 3

Orlando Pride – Anna Moorhouse; Kylie Nadaner, Emily Sams, Cori Dyke (Oihane 61’), Kerry Abello (Viviana Villacorta 75’), Haley McCutcheon, Summer Yates (Angelina 43’), Ally Lemos, Marta © (Prisca Chilufya 61’), Ally Watt (Carson Pickett 75’), Barbra Banda
Substitutes not used: McKinley Crone, Morgan Gautrat, Brianna Martinez, Zara Chavoshi
Total shots: 7
Shots on goal: 4
Fouls: 10
Offside: 1
Corner-kicks: 4
Saves: 5

Seattle Reign FC 1
NJ/NY Gotham FC 1
March 15, 2025
Lumen Field – Seattle, WA
NWSL Regular Season

Lee Pate Photos

Seattle Reign FC hosted Gotham FC on Saturday night at Lumen Field in the 2025 NWSL opener for both clubs.

Host Seattle is ready to put a frustrating 2024 in the rear view mirror. A return to the postseason is the objective for 2025, as the club continues to work in a wave of young talent with the core of veterans. The home debut of the major offseason acquisition of Lynn Biyendolo would have to wait.

The visitors from New York have seen a number of high profile players depart the club over the offseason. Getting a cross country trip out of the way early can be a good thing. Starting the campaign with Rose Lavelle and Midge Purce both out could be interesting.

A downpour unlike the usual Seattle drizzle made for interesting early going.

The first half was a back and forth affair. Each side had moments of play where things rolled together and chances were created. However, both also looked at times like teams in search of their footing in an opener.

A few decent sequences led to a few chances, but real danger was not created in the first half hour.

The match went into the half level and goalless, matching the weather and play.

Gotham would open the scoring early in the second half. In the 47th minute, Gabi Portilho would get the visitors on the board with a long shot from the top of the box that took a mild deflection.

A number of yellow cards were issued late in the first and the early second half as the match got more physical.

Matters would go level in the 71st minute. Reign wing Emeri Adames would manage to poke in a goal amidst a goal mouth scramble. Adames had only entered the match a few minutes earlier, bringing a surge of energy to the Seattle attack.

Gotham would face additional challenges in the waining minutes when Mandy Freeman would be sent off for a hard foul on Reign forward Nérilia Mondesir after a VAR review.

The level scoreline would hold up through an extended stoppage time. Splitting the points from a physical game in poor weather was not a terrible result for either side.

Seattle coach Laura Harvey reflected that this was a match they would have found a way to lose last year. Both clubs showed resiliency given the circumstances.

BOX

SCORING SUMMARY

NJ/NY – Gabi Portilho 47’
SEA – Emeri Adames 71’

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

NJ/NY – Gabi Portilho (caution) 38’
SEA – Jordyn Huitema (caution) 42’
SEA – Jordyn Bugg (caution) 52’
NJ/NY – Sarah Schupansky (caution) 66’
NJ/NY – Jaelin Howell (caution) 74’
NJ/NY – Mandy Freeman (ejection) 87’

LINEUPS & STATS

Seattle Reign FC – Claudia Dickey; Phoebe McClernon, Jordyn Bugg, Madison Curry, Shae Holmes; Angharad James-Turner (Maddie Mercado 69’); Jess Fishlock (c), Ji So-Yun (Sam Meza 90’); Maddie Dahlien (Emeri Adames 69′), Ana-Maria Crnogorčević (Nérilia Mondesir 58’), Jordyn Huitema
Substitutes not used: Cassie Miller, Lauren Barnes, Emily Mason, Ainsley McCammon

Total shots: 7
Shots on goal: 1
Fouls: 14
Offside: 1
Corner-Kicks: 3
Saves: 3

NJ/NY Gotham FC – Ann-Katrin Berger; Jess Carter, Tierna Davidson (c), Emily Sonnett, Mandy Freeman; Nealy Martin, Sarah Schupansky (Lilly Reale 90′), Jaelin Howell; Ella Stevens, Gabi Portilho (Cece Kizer 73’), Esther González (Mckenna Whitham 90+3′)
Substitutes not used: Shelby Hogan, Taryn Torres, Ryan Campbell, Khyah Harper, Stella Nyamekye

Total shots: 11
Shots on goal: 4
Fouls: 11
Offside: 1
Corner-kicks: 5
Saves: 0

Referees: Alexandra Billeter
Assistants: Tiffini Turpin, Art Arustamyan
Fourth Official: Benjamin Meyer
VAR: Patricia McCracken
Attendance: 8,467
Weather: 42 degrees and heavy rain

Seattle Sounders FC 3
Antigua GFC 1
February 26, 2025
Lumen Field – Seattle, WA
CONCACAF Champions Cup

Seattle Sounders FC hosted Antigua GFC on Wednesday evening in Seattle in the return leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup tie. The hosts took the first leg on the road 3-1 on February 19th. The winner of the tie will be set to face Cruz Azul in the Round of 16.

Seattle entered the match with both a two goal cushion and three away goals. With the Champions Cup matches wedged midweek during the first league matches, Seattle was getting an early taste of how the 2025 schedule crunch will be. Antigua arrived in Seattle with the deficit in the tie and needing to return to a league match on the weekend.

The hosts would also get on the scoreboard first. Pedro de la Vega would break through in the 24th minute; scoring his second in the tie and first goal of any kind at Lumen. The early matches of 2025 seem to indicate de la Vega is in the form the SOunders had hoped for when signing him a year ago.

Antigua made excellent use of counters and switches throughout the first half. The Guatamalen side eleveled in first half stoppage utilizing a diagonal ball deep into the Sounders penalty area. Jose Galvez would get a far post short range touch past Sounder keeper Andrew Thomas. VAR confirmed the goal and the match entered the half level at one.

The late first half goal altered the match coming out of the half. Seattle came out pressing early, not merely sitting on their lead.

The pressure would pay off with a goal in the 53rd minute. Paul Arriola would slot home a right footed shot off a pass from Jesus Ferreira to put Seattle back up 2-1.

Antigua would continue to attempt to press forward, getting a few good looks on goal. Seattle chose to continue to press for more goals, not merely hanging back and absorbing or killing the game. Second half subs would add energy to the Seattle attack.

Pedro de la Vega would continue his blistering start to 2025 with a late brace. The 88th minute strike would make the match 3-1 and be his third goal in the first week of the season.

As winner, Seattle now faces Mexican club Cruz Azul in the Round of 16 on March 5 at home in the first leg.

Boston Fleet 2 (3) – 2pts SOW
Montreal Victoire 2 (1) 1pt SOL
PWHL Regular Season – Takeover Tour
Climate Pledge Arena – Seattle, WA
January 5, 2025

photos by Vanya Tucherov

The PWHL Takeover Tour hit Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena on Sunday afternoon. A large and enthusiastic crowd packed the building. Unlike many other sports tours, the match and the Takeover Tour are regular season games that count in the standings and were not merely exhibitions.

The weekend-long event included the players getting the Seattle treatment of fish throwing and sightseeing, a Kraken game Saturday night, and and open practice at the Kraken Community Iceplex that drew hundreds of loud and enthusiastic fans.

The two clubs played last Monday in Montreal, an 3-1 win by the Victoire. Montreal has not played during the week since. Boston played in Minnesota on Thursday and comes in on a three match losing skid.

Both teams had commented on Saturday to expect a physical match up as they had just recently played a hard fought match. That would prove to be true in the early going.

Montreal would grab the game’s first goal. Taking advantage of the first power play, the Victoire’s Laura Stacey would poke in from short range. The early stages had seen Boston pushing the play, having a 6-1 SOG advantage in the first half dozen minutes prior to the power play. The Fleet had managed to get several good looks early, but had not capitalized.

Not long after the goal, a scrum would ensue in front of the Fleet goal, highlighting the stakes of the game. A Victoire slashing penalty would provide Boston with an opportunity to level, but they were unable to get the equalizer as Montreal would kill off the penalty. The pace of play remained brisk.

Late in the first, Montreal would grab a second goal by Abby Boreen. The early push from Boston had not produced a goal and Montreal had found their game. The 2-0 scoreline would hold into the first intermission.

Boston would again come out pressing, needing to cut the lead. But again, Montreal’s defense would weather the attack and as the period progressed the Victoire would once again begin to control more of the play and get more shots on goal.

The hard hitting would mostly continue, but Boston appeared more interested in getting players into transition. Even after successfully killing a mid 2nd period penalty, the Fleet still found themselves down two and goalless.

The break Boston needed would come when Montreal would find themselves suddenly two players down from a quick series of penalties. It did not take long in the 5v3 situation for the Fleet to finally get on the board. Hannah Bilka’s goal made the it 2-1, and it felt like a very different game with seven minutes left in the 2nd.

Boston’s good fortune looked to be quickly evaporated when almost immediately facing a a power play themselves, but they managed to fend off the Victoire with some scrappy defense in front of the net.

The crowd had steadily warmed up to the neutral match, cheering plays and goals and hits regardless of who. A close game entering the final period brought the noise out. The early 3rd period penalty against Boston got the crowd going on the power play.

The power play dented the Fleet time for a leveling goal. They managed to kill off the penalty, but as the midpoint of the period ticked down, they were still a goal down.

The Fleet got that second goal. WIth nine minutes remaining and with Montreal down a player, Susanna Tapani would make it 2-2 and the crowd noise sounded like it was actually a home game for Boston.

The final minutes were tense, as both looked to grab a late winner. The end to end pace and near misses and late chances added drama to an already exciting evening.

The overtime period began with Boston having a 5v4 advantage from a late penalty against Montreal. Montreal killed off the penalty. Both had chances, but neither was able to get past the stellar goaltending on display from both Aerin Frankel and Ann-Renee Desbiens.

The shootout would go the way of Boston, as they netted three to just one from the Victoire.

The crowd of 12,608 was treated to a great game amidst a well done event weekend.

BOX

Montréal 2 0 0 0 – 2
Boston 0 1 1 0 – 3

1st Period-1, Montréal, Stacey 3 (Gardiner, Barnes), 6:28 (PP). 2, Montréal, Boreen 3 (Ambrose, O’Neill), 16:36. Penalties-Brown Bos (tripping), 5:39; O’Neill Mtl (slashing), 12:47.

2nd Period-3, Boston, Bilka 2 (Keller, Pelkey), 12:45 (PP). Penalties-Murphy Mtl (interference), 7:24; served by Ljungblom Mtl (too many players), 11:40; Wilgren Mtl (hooking), 12:02; Bilka Bos (tripping), 13:00.

3rd Period-4, Boston, Tapani 4 (Keller, Bilka), 10:58 (PP). Penalties-Tapani Bos (interference), 3:18; Murphy Mtl (tripping), 10:35; Poulin Mtl (boarding), 19:47.

1st OT Period- No Scoring.Penalties-No Penalties

Shootout – Montréal 1 (Poulin G, Grant-Mentis NG, Ambrose NG, Stacey NG), Boston 3 (Brandt G, Knight NG, Bilka G, Tapani G).

Shots on Goal-Montréal 9-6-8-2-0-25. Boston 7-6-10-7-1-31.

Power Play Opportunities-Montréal 1 / 3; Boston 2 / 6.

Goalies-Montréal, Desbiens 3-1-0-1 (30 shots-28 saves). Boston, Frankel 3-3-1-0 (25 shots-23 saves).

A-12,608

THREE STARS

1. Hannah Bilka (BOS) 1G, 1A, SOW
2. Abby Boreen (MTL) 1G
3. Susanna Tapani (BOS) 1G

Seattle Reign FC 2
Houston Dash 1
October 18, 2024
Lumen Field – Seattle, WA
NWSL Regular Season

Two clubs playing out the NWSL regular season met in Seattle on Friday evening. Both Seattle Reign FC and Houston Dash have been eliminated from playoff qualification with two matches remaining. With both clubs level on 20 points at the bottom of the table it was an opportunity for both to avoid finishing at the actual bottom.

The hosts find themselves in unusual territory at the end of the 2024 campaign; having played in the NWSL Championship in 2023 and in winning the NWSL Shield in 2022. Houston and Seattle are only differentiated by goal difference as the season concludes after the international break.

The first half of the first half was a fairly free flowing affair. Neither side was taking huge risks with numbers forward or in pushing their defenses forward.

The result was a lot of ball movement with the intermittent look on goal. Houston had a few really good looks, but Reign keeper Claudia Dickey was solid. It was the same at the other end as the Reign managed a few good looks on goal, but nothing Dash keeper Jane Campbell could not handle.

In the middle of the half, Seattle midfielder Olivia Athens would get a look on goal from outside the box and her long range volley opened the scoring.

The lead would not hold, as moments later Reign captain Lauren Barnes would be called for a penalty at the other end. Bárbara Olivieri would convert the penalty and things were right back to level at one.

The level scoreline continued well into the second half. As neither side changed tactics or personnel the match continued in the same manner as the first half.

Then Dash seemed to have the most success on the counter from the left side through Ryan Gareis, who managed to get free a number of times through the match running onto long through balls.

Haitian Nerilia Mondesir would break the deadlock in the 65th minute. Pouncing on a loose ball a few yards in front of the Dash goal, Mondesir would manage to poke it past Campbell for a Reign lead. The goal was the first NWSL goal for Mondesir.

The second goal would hold up for Seattle. The goal and win appeared cathartic for the home side, a positive result for the final match at home at the end of a season of frustrations.

Lee Pate Photos

BOX

Scoring Summary

SEA: Athens – 22’, Mondésir – 65′
HOU: Olivieri (P) – 25’

Discipline

SEA: None
HOU: Chapman (Caution – 51′)

Lineups

SEA: GK Dickey, D Barnes (c) (McClernon 81’), D Bugg, D Glas (Holmes 89’), M Ji (Stanton 81’), M Athens, M Mondésir, F Latsko, F Huitema (Lester 90+6’), F Adames (Crnogorčević 73’), F King (Mercado 81’)
Unused substitutes: GK Ivory, GK Perez

Total Shots: 12 (Adames – 3)
Shots on Goal: 5 (Mondésir – 2)
Fouls: 8 (Mondésir – 3)
Offsides: 1
Corner Kicks: 2
Saves: 3 (Dickey – 3)

HOU: GK Campbell (c), D Chapman (Jacobs 85’), D Lima, D Nielsen, D Harris, M Schmidt, M Puntigam (Matthews 85’), M Gareis (Briede 66’), M Patterson, F Nagasato (West 77’), F Olivieri
Unused substitutes: F Ordóñez, GK Hinz, D Ayson, GK Mckinney

Total Shots: 10 (Gareis, Puntigam– 2)
Shots on Goal: 4 (Gareis – 2)
Fouls: 9 (Olivieri – 3)
Offsides: 3
Corner Kicks: 5
Saves: 3 (Campbell – 3)

Referee: Brad Jensen
Assistant Referee 1: Seun Yinka-Kehinde
Assistant Referee 2: Eric Krueger
4th Official: Kelsey Harms
VAR: Alexandra Billeter
AVAR: Rhett Hammil