Seattle Reign FC 1
North Carolina Courage 0
August 25, 2024
Lumen Field – Seattle, WA
NWSL Regular Season

The Seattle Reign FC hosted North Carolina Courage on Megan Rapinoe jersey number retirement night at Lumen Field on Sunday night. Rapinoe’s 15 was retired and the city of Seattle had been host to a number of events and tributes over the weekend, culminating in the ceremony Sunday evening at the match.

The final stretch of the season has a sense of urgency for the Reign, as they enter the match bottom of the table. With a ten match run in, there is still time to get hot and make up a few games and get to the final playoff spot, but there is no real margin for error at this point for a club that was in the championship match last year and won the shield the year prior.

North Carolina entered the international break playing well and are above the playoff line, so continuing to play as they have been and finish strong will set them up for a shot at a title match.

The hosts made several roster moves in recent days; including trading away Bethany Balcer and bringing in two internationals and Jaelin Howell.

Right out of the gate it looked like the Courage were going to take it to the Reign, pushing and nearly breaking through in the opening minutes. Seattle would weather the early storm, getting a few looks themselves. In the 14th minute North Carolina broke through behind the Reign defense but was unable to convert. This early end to end pace would be the way of things throughout much of the half. Carolina especially seemed to be pushing up their right flank, challenging the left side of the Reign defense.

As Carolina continued their pressure, the Seattle defense continued to bend and hold their shape. The Reign took a few counter opportunities forward as the half progressed, finding opportunities on goal few to come by. With the exception of some chances on corners, the Courage defense also held their ground.

Jessica Fishlock nearly broke open the scoring near the end of the first half. After getting on the end of a through ball the shot was smothered by Courage keeper Casey Murphy.

The half would end goalless.

The Courage continued to have the better of possession, but both clubs came out in the early stages of the second half with their metaphorical foot on the gas. It looked like the Reign were going to break through, but much as the story of 2024 has been, the opportunities were stopped or went over the bar. Murphy smothered what looked like a certain goal in the 58th minute as Tziarra King put in from close range to no avail.

Howell would come on in the 74th with Nérilia Mondésir to make their Reign debuts With Ana-Maria Crnogorčević in the starting eleven, all three new additions found the field Sunday evening.

There was a spark in the Reign offense as the match wound down, but Murphy continued to be difficult to get past. The Courage found the possession balance shift in the final minutes, as the Reign could not afford to simply settle for a draw and a point and put on a late push.

The stoppage time winner would come six minutes into stoppage time. Emeri Adames would sneak a header past Murphy, a cathartic moment for the Reign. The official ruling is own goal on Murphy as the ball spun off the post into her and into the goal.

A festive night and a crowd of 16,598 was loud and raucous throughout the celebratory evening. The crowd would go home after witnessing an exciting match and three potentially season saving points.

The match was also the 100th regular season win for Laura Harvey, the first coach to reach that milestone in the NWSL.

Lee Pate Photos

BOX

NCC (4-3-3): Casey Murphy; Dani Weatherholt, Malia Berkely, Kaleigh Kurtz, Ryan Williams; Denise O’Sullivan ©, Narumi Miura, Ashley Sanchez (Victoria Pickett – 77’); Tyler Lussi (Olivia Wingate – 63’), Cortnee Vine (Meredith Speck – 87′), Manaka Matsukubo (Riley Jackson – 87′)
Subs Not Used: Marisa Bova, Haley Hopkins, Brianna Pinto, Felicitas Rauch, Charlotte McLean

SEA (4-3-3): Claudia Dickey, Shae Holmes, Phoebe McClernon, Jordyn Bugg, Sofia Huerta, Ji So-Yun (Olivia Athens – 89′), Jess Fishlock (Jaelin Howell – 75’), Quinn, Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic (Nérilia Mondésir – 75’), Jordyn Huitema (Emeri Adams – 89′), Tziarra King (Veronica Latsko – 66’)
Subs Not Used: Angharad James-Turner, Julia Lester, Ainsley Mccammon

Score:
NCC: 0
SEA: 1

Goals:
NCC: –
SEA: C. Murphy – 90+7′ (OG)

Yellow/Red:
NCC: –
SEA: –

Attendance: 16,598

MATCH DAY 1

Seattle Reign FC 2
Utah Royals FC 1
July 19, 2024
Lumen Field – Seattle, WA
NWSL X LIGA MX Femenil Summer Cup

The first NWSL X LIGA MX Femenil Summer Cup kicked off for Seattle and Utah on Friday night. The two clubs find themselves at or near the bottom of the table going into the Olympic break, the Summer Cup possibly providing an opportunity to take a crack at a trophy in 2024.

With internationals not available or just returning from duty, it is also an opportunity for many in each squad to grab some playing time.

Utah’s return to NWSL play has been a slow start, already resulting in a coaching change.

Reign FC have had a rough 2024, but are looking for a late season run in. In both 2022 and 2023 late season shifts in form led to a Shield and a championship appearance.

Both sides came out with pressure, pushing for an early goal or to create a mistake. As a result, the early stages was a pretty wide open field.

The hosts managed a set piece header just a few minutes in. The visitors forced Reign keeper Laurel Ivory into a tricky save in the 13th amidst a period of pressure.

Cup matches with squad rotation often provide a glimpse into possible futures of clubs. For Seattle, the mix of rotation regulars also included a look at Maddie Mercado, Sam Meza, and Julia Lester. Rookie Emeri Adames was provided an opportunity to start, a long with McKenzie Weinert on the front line.

The two sides had recently played to a 1-1 draw in Seattle just before the international break. The two starting elevens that took the field for the cup match looked nothing like those line ups.

The flow of play in the first half was fairly open and end to end, but not the sometimes near frantic like pace and pressure of league matches. Both found a few opportunities, but the defenses held as the first half progressed.

Olivia Athens would open the scoring in the 43rd minute, converting from the spot from a foul on Weinert. The goal would not carry into the interval. Utah forward Paige Monaghan nearly had leveled in stoppage time on a counter, but the Reign defense held, to hold the one nil scoreline.

Moments later however, the match would be leveled when Cameron Tucker was left open on the far post and blasted a volley past Ivory.

The open play and pressing continued into the second half. Both sides continued to create the odd chance, but neither keeper was especially tested.

in the 77th minute Sofia Huerta would get a head on a far post cross from Tziarra King, nabbing the second goal and putting the Reign back in the lead 2-1. Seattle has moved towards not merely overlapping with their outside backs, but in pushing them up into midfield wings on transition as 2024 has progressed. The eventual game winner was an example of how that approach pushes their forwards up higher, a move which bought King the time to set up the goal and Huerta the space to get to the far post.

The Royals would push for the late equalizer, creating a number of chances in the waining minutes.

The 2-1 margin gives Seattle the early advantage in the group phase of the Summer Cup.

Ainsley McCammon would debut in the 90th minute for the Reign, her signing having been announced earlier in the day with Jordyn Bugg.

BOX

Scoring Summary
SEA: Athens – 43’, Huerta – 76′
UTA: Tucker – 45+5’

Discipline
SEA: Stanton (Caution – 50′), Meza (Caution – 63′)
UTA: Betfort (Caution – 75′)

Lineups

SEA: GK Ivory, D Holmes, D Brown (Huerta 46’), D McClernon, D Lester, M Stanton, M Athens (McCammon 90’), M Mercado (Meza 57’), F Adames (King 65’), F Weinert (Balcer 65’), F Latsko Unused substitutes: GK Dickey, D Perez, D Bugg, D Cook

Total Shots: 9 (Balcer, Weinert – 2)
Shots on Goal: 4 (Four tied with – 1)
Fouls: 8 (Weinert – 3)
Offsides: 0
Corner Kicks: 6
Saves: 2 (Ivory – 2)

UTA: GK Roque, D Del Fava (Merrick 46’), D Tejada, D Burns, D Pogarch (O’Brien 88’), D Riehl, M Foederer (Boren 86’), F Mozingo, F Monaghan (c) (Murison 86’), F Tucker, F BetfortUnused substitutes: GK Haught, D Smith-Griffitts, M Nyberg, F Vasconcelos

Total Shots: 11 (Monaghan, Pogarch – 3)
Shots on Goal: 3 (Three tied with – 1)
Fouls: 12 (Tejada – 4)
Offsides: 3
Corner Kicks: 6
Saves: 2 (Roque – 2)

Referee: Elijio Arreguin
Assistant Referee 1: Elijio Arreguin
Assistant Referee 2: Eric Krueger
4th Official: Dion Coxe-Trieger

*****

MATCH DAY 2

Seattle Reign FC 2
Club Tijuana 3
July 28, 2024
Lumen Field – Seattle, WA
NWSL X LIGA MX Femenil Summer Cup

Club Tijuana visited Seattle on Sunday afternoon for a Summer Cup match with Seattle Reign FC. The group phase match was the second for both sides, with a chance for Seattle to take hold of the top of the table on the line.

Tijuana took it right at the hosts.  A quick exchange and a nice touch by Aisha Solorzano with Reign keeper Laurel Ivory out of her box put the guests up one nil in the second minute.

The early goal immediately upped the pace of the match and gave the visitors a boost.  They nearly doubled their lead a few minutes later but the post saved the Reign from a tough early deficit.

Seattle began to get their feet under them, creating some chances and getting McKenzie Weinert through on a number of occasions, but the goalpost also helped Tijuana in the 21st minute, preserving the early lead.

As the opening half progressed, the bulk of the play would move more into the Tijuana half. The Reign would begin to assert themselves, creating more and more chances, but not breaking through the level the match.

Solorzano would double the lead for Tijuana in the 40th minute, somehow getting clear of the Reign defense and drilling a low shot from top of the box past Ivory. The Guatemalan had only had a few chances and touches in the first half, but had made the most of it with two excellent touches for a first half brace.

Coming off a five goal loss to Portland, Tijuana found themselves up by two at the half in Seattle

Seattle came out of the break on their front foot, needing to grab the next goal.

Emeri Adames would in fact cut the lead in the 47th minute, finding her way through a number of defenders and launching a left footed blast just under the bar from the top of the box. Much as both of Tijuana’s goals had been moments of excellent touch, Adames’ goal was a moment of class.

Maddie Mercado would get her first professional goal in the 63rd minute, leveling the match at two. Mercado’s goal was a case of following up a play and making the most of a one touch opportunity.

With the match level, a number of Reign regulars came on with about 25 minutes to grab a winner.

Solorzano would complete her hat trick instead, grabbing the lead back for Tiuana in the 84th minute with a left footed near post blast. 

Squad rotation for the Reign was in full effect. Jordyn Bugg made her debut.  Sam Meza got her first start.  Alana Cook is now with KC and no longer with the club.  Laurel Ivory was captain.

Seattle would throw everything forward in the waining minutes and stoppage time. A number of late chances just did not convert into goals.

The 3-2 margin is a big win for Club Tijuana, especially after conceding the lead to grab the late winner.

Squad rotation for the Reign was in full effect. Jordyn Bugg made her debut.  Sam Meza got her first start.  Alana Cook is now with KC and no longer with the club.  Laurel Ivory was captain.

BOX

Scoring Summary

SEA: Adames – 47’, Mercado – 62′
TIJ: Solórzano – 2’, 40’, 84’

Discipline

SEA: James-Turner (Caution – 69′)
TIJ: Pelayo (Caution – 89’)

Lineups

SEA: GK Ivory (C), D Bugg, D Woodham, D Lester, M Stanton (Huerta 46’), M Meza (Ji 67’), M Athens, M Mercado (Latsko 67’), M James-Turner, F Adames (King 87’), F Weinert (Balcer 67’)
Unused substitutes: GK Perez, D McClernon, D Holmes, M McCammon

Total Shots: 17 (Adames – 5)
Shots on Goal: 9 (Adames – 4)
Fouls: 7 (Seven tied with – 1)
Offsides: 3
Corner Kicks: 11
Saves: 1 (Ivory – 1)

TIJ: GK Gonzalez, D Diaz, D Martinez (Villalobos 77’), D Alvarado, D Fong, M Herrera (Fernandez 68’), M Pelayo, M Martinez (Cox 68’), M Hernandez (C) (Izaguirre 77’), F Marroquin (Espinosa 62’), F Solorzano
Unused substitutes: F Carrandi, F Munguia, D Mora, GK Gutierrez

Total Shots: 6 (Solorzano – 4)
Shots on Goal: 4 (Solorzano – 4)
Fouls: 13 (Pelayo – 5)
Offsides: 2
Corner Kicks: 0
Saves: 7 (Gonzalez – 7)

Referee: Jaclyn Metz
Assistant Referee 1: Sharon Gingrich
Assistant Referee 2: Melissa Beck
4th Official: Kelsey Harms

Reign v Tijuana Photos by Lee Pate

Seattle Reign FC 1
Utah Royals FC 1
July 7, 2024
Lumen Field – Seattle, WA
NWSL Regular Season

Reign FC and Utah Royals met Sunday afternoon in Seattle in the final regular season NWSL matchday prior to the Olympic break. Both clubs find themselves looking up from the bottom of the table, but a little run of a few matches could jump a side up near that playoff line.  Three points was essential.

The Utah return to NWSL play has been a rough start, with a coaching change in the middle of this first season. Jimmy Coenraets will serve as interim head coach for the Royals.

Seattle finally caught a break nabbing a late point from a stoppage time ownb goal last week at Gotham FC. Many more breaks are needed to claw back up the table. Late season runs have been a thing for the Reign in recent seasons.

The first half was a hard hitting affair. Both sides contested loose balls and passes with the intensity of teams that needed the result.

Seattle was able to get in front of the Utah goal a number of times in the early stages, but the Royals were defending well in numbers. Pushing the ball up either flank with overlapping outside backs, the Reign were getting the ball into the dangerous places.  Utah managed to congest the front of their goal and converged, blocking lanes.

The attacks were creating chances, but few really good looks on goal for either side as the half wound down. Bethany Balcer saw a good chance go wide in the 36th minute. Utah hit the crossbar from range after a bad Reign giveaway in stoppage time.

The match would go into the half level and scoreless.

VAR would come into play early in the 2nd half. Seattle would find the back of the net, but in the sequence leading in there was a collision in front of the goal with the Utah keeper. The review would pull the goal back and leave the match goalless.

Much of what was happening in the first half continued well into the second.  Each team was moving the ball, sometimes getting it into dangerous positions, but ultimately unable to get many good clear chances in front of the goal before team defending mucked up the works.

On the artificial surface in the unusual Seattle heat, the subs came on in waves, both coaches trying to get fresh legs on. Even so, the pressing by both teams continued, but the field seemed more spread.  Under these conditions it was not a surprise when a giveaway in the defense led to a goal.

Ally Sentnor would take her chance and get Utah their goal in the 67th minute, gaining possession in the Seattle third and managing to hold off defenders and getting the ball past Reign keeper Claudia Dickey.

Seattle would get their goal in the 75th minute to bring matters level. Veronica Latsko would get in behind the Utah defense and left foot a volley home. The goal brought the energy back to both sides in the sweltering conditions, breathing life back into the pressing.

Points have been at a premium for both Seattle and Utah in 2024. Even though one point would be something, both really needed three.  Play would get more and more direct in the waining minutes and stoppage time, with both taking risks forward, but with fewer numbers.

This was a match where the team defenses ultimately clogged up the chances enough to keep the score low.  Each side grabbed a goal and therefore a point, but in the end it isn’t what either club needs to push up the table this season.

The clubs and the league now enter the Olympic break with the draw. After a brief respite, the same two teams square off in two weeks in Seattle in the NWSL X Liga MX Femenil Cup on July 19th.

BOX

Scoring Summary

SEA: Latsko – 75’
UTA: Sentnor – 67’

Discipline

SEA: None
UTA: None

Lineups

SEA: GK Dickey, D Huerta, D Brown (Holmes 59’), D McClernon, D Cook, M Fishlock (c) (James-Turner 59’), M Quinn (Athens 90+1’), M Ji, F King (Adames 90+1’), F Balcer (Latsko 64’), F Huitema Unused substitutes: GK Ivory, D Woodham, M Mercado, M Stanton

Total Shots: 20 (King, Latsko – 4)
Shots on Goal: 6 (King – 3)
Fouls: 4 (Four tied with– 1)
Offsides: 4
Corner Kicks: 5
Saves: 7 (Dickey – 7)

UTA: GK Haught, D Del Fava, D Burns, D Pogarch, M Foederer, M Nyberg (Flynn 46’ (Merrick 8`’)), F Mozingo, F Monaghan (c) (Tucker 81’), F Sentnor, F Betfort (Onumonu 77’)Unused substitutes: GK Roque, M Gray, D Riehl

Shots: 15 (Sentnor – 7)
Shots on Goal: 7 (Sentnor – 7)
Fouls: 8 (Betfort, Tejada – 2)
Offsides: 2
Corner Kicks: 2
Saves: 5 (Haught – 5)

Referee: Matt Thompson
Assistant Referee 1: Darren Bandy
Assistant Referee 2: Matt Trotter
4th Official: Kelsey Harms
VAR: Alexandra Billeter
AVAR: Kaili Terry

Lee Pate Photos

Seattle Reign FC has officially announced the sale of the club to a group including Seattle Sounders FC ownership and global investment group Carlyle.

The transaction completion brings to an end one era and begins another.  However, the ownership sale has been long acknowledged as in progress and today’s announcement finally gives players, supporters, and the city a chance to move forward.

The group includes Carlyle’s Head of Private Credit, Alex Popov along with Sounders FC Owner Adrian Hanauer.  Maya Mendoza-Exstrom will be Chief Business Officer and joins General Manager Lesle Gallimore and Head Coach Laura Harvey as the women led leadership team.

Seattle Reign FC 0
Portland Thorns FC 0
June 16, 2024
Lumen Field – Seattle, WA
NWSL Regular Season

When the NWSL began in 2013 there was hope amongst supporters and the Cascadia clubs that the regional rivalry could become something more than merely regional.  In over a decade both clubs have won trophies, played dramatic matches, and seen the rivalry actually develop across multiple competitions.  The Sunday match in Seattle is the 40th match between the two sides and a real rivalry has emerged. Both rosters have had long tenured players and coaches embrace the rivalry.  Traveling supporters have added atmosphere to matches.  The games have had consequences. Just over a month ago, the Thorns dropped four on the visiting Reign in Providence Park in a match that went sideways for the Reign late.

Since the match in Portland, the Thorns have maintained their spots near the top of the table. The hosts Reign have seen their usually stingy defense suddenly giving up goals in bunches and a season looking like it could slip away. Sophia Smith would not be available due to a red card suspension.  Sam Coffey, Olivia Moultrie, and Morgan Weaver were also out for the Thorns due to injury, while the Reign came in reasonably healthy. Claudia Dickey returned from injury in goal for the Reign, getting her first start in several weeks.

The Cascadia derbies have often been intense and physical affairs.  The level of intensity matching the level of the rivalry as it has grown.  It did not take long for the intensity to manifest in the form of a yellow card.  The first booking came a mere three minutes in to Portland’s Janine Beckie for a foul on Reign midfielder Jessica Fishlock. 

The first half would play out in waves of pressure. The early stages seemed as though both sides were poking and prodding, looking for any advantage that did not come.  As the middle of the half progressed, the hosts seemed to have the better of the ball and possession, but the Thorns counter was dangerous.

Eventually, both would get some good looks and set pieces, creating moments of danger in front of both goals.  Neither would break through.  Late in the half it appeared as though the Reign might grab a first goal, but the Portland defense handled Jordyn Huitema getting in behind.  The first half would end goalless.

Coming out of the interval the intensity ramped up.  Only a few minutes into the half and Reign defender Ryanne Brown would be booked for a foul on Christine Sinclair.  The physical play continued with several hard fouls causing a number of stoppages.

Seattle would find some good chances on goal in the middle third, but chips from Brown and a shot from Bethany Balcer  would go high.

Portland did not hold back attacking, even with so many injuries, but their forays forward tended towards counters and the defense stayed home.

The final stages of the match was a continuation of the pressure and physical intensity that had been the story of the match. All the stoppages led to significant added time, giving both clubs a chance to throw forward a few more attacks.

The goalless draw at least was a point for the Reign and clean sheet, given the 15 goals they had conceded over the previous four matches.  The single point for Portalnd was a well deserved grinded out road point given the circumstances.

The home side might rue the draw, given several really dangerous chances, but the point was their first since a similarly hard fought goalless home draw with Kansas City in May.

With this draw, the NWSL Cascadia derby has now run 40 matches.

Photos by Lee Pate

Seattle Reign FC 2
Orlando Pride 3
May 19, 2024
Lumen Field – Seattle, WA
NWSL Regular Season

Unbeaten Orlando Pride made the long trek cross country to Seattle to face the host Reign FC on a Sunday afternoon. Seattle finds itself in the unusual position of looking up from the bottom of the table. Meanwhile, the Pride has leveraged a stingy defense into a spot up near the top.

Three points would do wonders for the Seattle place in the standings, potentially moving them up several spots in the congested table. Those same three points could start to give the Pride some separation as the table begins to stretch out into the midseason.

Seattle would need to shake off a difficult loss to Cascadia rivals last weekend away at Portland.

The early stages were a little less end to end than recent matches. But, in just the ninth minute Orlando would open the scoring with a long range shot from Emily Sams left foot past the lunging Laurel Ivory.

With the early goal, Orlando was able to pick their spots. As the Reign began to press forward looking for the equalizer, the Pride would grab a second goal in the 18th minute when Barbra Banda would get a header from close range.

Seattle would try and rally. In a season that has been a struggle, going down two early at home is not what Reign players or fans are used to. For a club traveling cross country, the Pride found itself in ideal circumstances as the middle of the first half approached. Tziarra King would nearly grab one back in that middle phase of the half, but her long range crack was handled. Kylie Strom looked to have made it three nil in the 32nd minute on a header from a set piece that took an interesting bounce, but VAR would rule it offside and giving the home side a lifeline.

The VAR lifeline brought some life back to the hosts, as they pressured the Pride defense and created a number of chances as the half wound down. But, this is the Reign 2024 so far in a nutshell; some good sequences and pace, chances in front of the opposing goal, and then they find themselves somehow behind and playing catch up.

The break Seattle needed would come late in first half stoppage time. Ji So-Yun would lay off a ball to Angharad James-Turner and James-Turner would bring the match back to a one goal margin. A bit of a deflection would help, but it was the sort of break the Reign have not been getting.

The breaks would continue for Seattle, as Bethany Balcer would level the match shortly after the restart in the 48th minute. From two goals down just before the break to level just after brought the Seattle crowd to life.

The Pride continued to do what had worked so well in the early stages of the match and for the season so far and showed no panic. Orlando has proven to be a stingy defense, but their counter down the wing continued to create dangerous situations. The Pride moved the ball about well, holding possession for stretches and looking for their spots.

The match would not remain level for long. The visitors were dangerous on set pieces and grabbed the lead back in the 59th minute as Banda would grab her 2nd of the match off a corner.

Orlando would see out the match and grab the three points, maintaining their unbeaten 2024 season through ten matches. With 24 points they sit two points clear at the top.

It was another heartbreaker for the Reign. At the very least it appeared they had grabbed a gritty point when they leveled, but it was not to be.

Late in the match more cards would emerge as the physical play intensified and some frustrations came to a head. Cook would see yellow in the 76th and Balcer would be sent off in the 84th with a second yellow for dissent after a first half yellow in stoppage time.

BOX

Weather: 63, partly sunny

Scoring Summary

SEA: James-Turner – 45+5′, Balcer – 48′
ORL: Sams – 9′, Banda – 18′, 58’

Discipline

SEA: Balcer (Caution – 45+1’, Second yellow – 83′), Cook (Caution – 76′)
ORL: Doyle (Caution – 90+4’), Allen (Caution – 90+8’)

Lineups

SEA: GK Ivory, D Huerta, D Barnes (c) (Holmes 46’), D Cook, D McClernon, M Fishlock, M Van der Jagt (Latsko 67’), M Ji (Weinert 87’), M James-Turner (Athens 83’) F Balcer, F King (Adames 83’)
Unused substitutes: GK Perez, D Brown, D Woodham, M Stanton

Total Shots: 15 (Three tied with – 13
Shots on Goal: 6 (Balcer, James-Turner – 2)
Fouls: 14 (Three tied with– 3)
Offsides: 2
Corner Kicks: 2
Saves: 1 (Ivory – 1)

ORL: GK Moorhouse, D McCutheon, D Sams, D Souza, D Strom, M Abello, M Lemos (Watt 78’), M Yates (Doyle 46’), F Adriana (Dyke 63’), F Banda (Allen 90+2’), F Marta (c) (Martinez 78’)
Unused substitutes: GK Crone, M Duljan, F Kerr, D Lawrence

Total Shots: 8 (Banda, Marta 3)
Shots on Goal: 4 (Banda– 2)
Fouls: 8 (Eight tied with – 1)
Offsides: 1
Corner Kicks: 4
Saves: 4 (Moorhouse – 4)

Referee: Elijio Arreguin
Assistant Referee 1: Seth Martin
Assistant Referee 2: Salma Perez
4th Official: Iryna Petrunok
VAR: Shawn Tehini
AVAR: Kaili Terry

Photos by Lee Pate

Seattle Reign FC 0
Portland Thorns FC 4
May 11, 2024
Providence Park – Portland, OR
NWSL Regular Season

When the NWSL began in 2013 the Cascadia Derby was ready made for Thorns and Reign supporters and players. There was hope it would grow into something. Both clubs embraced the notion and also both clubs have been good. Shields and championship banners have helped boost the legacy and long serving players passed along the rivalry to newer teammates.
Traveling supporters were there from the very start. Saturday night in Portland and June 16 in Seattle will be the 39th and 40th matches in the series across all competitions.

The early goings of the 2024 campaign were not great for either club, but recent matches for both show that perhaps corners have been turned. Seattle has grabbed four points from six the past week, including winning playing the bulk of a match with ten and holding the highest scoring side goalless. Portland seemed to right the ship a bit quicker and went into the match with four wins on the trot.

Three points would help each club significantly in overcoming their slow starts.

A packed house in Portland was loud and rocking from the opening whistle. It was clear from the opening minutes that the match was going to be played with the intensity of a must win match and of a rivalry match.

Sophia Smith made herself known quickly, making dangerous runs and getting looks on goal in the first several minutes. The host Thorns have been clicking on offense in recent matches and that looked to be continuing as the first half progressed. The visiting Reign defense was tested early, but was playing with a similar resilience from recent matches.

Christine Sinclair has been a part of the rivalry since the beginning with Reign originals Lu Barnes and Jessica Fishlock. Sinclair combined with Smith and teenage teammate Olivia Moultrie early for a couple of decent looks on goal.

The first half heat index hydration break saw the match still level and goalless in the 31st minute. For the visitors playing their third match in nine days, there was a potential question as to whether a hot night might prove additionally challenging.

The Thorns had the statistical bulk of possession, pushing forward at every opportunity to get their attacking players forward. Seattle likes to play out of the back and appeared to be will to play pragmatic and absorb and counter. The majority of the Reign looks on goal came from the outside in, generally in the air on the cross.

Before the half could draw to a close level, Moultrie would crack a top of the box shot from right to the far post left, beating Reign keeper Laurel Ivory in the 42nd minute.

The Moultrie goal only added to the raucous Portland atmosphere. Seattle would get late chances in the half before the break, including a couple of set pieces.

A goal line clearance from Kelli Hubly on a Bethany Balcer header in first half stoppage time was potentially match saving for the Thorns, keeping the one goal margin going into the interval.

The physical intensity of the match amped up as the second half progressed. Eventually, a few yellow cards would emerge from the pocket as players from both sides pressed hard after every ball.

Seattle began to push forward more and quicker, looking to catch Portland on a quick counter. The Thorns did not attack less, but sent smaller numbers forward with the single goal lead and the clock in their favor.

VAR would award Portland a penalty in the 78th minute on a review of a hand ball against Reign defender Sofia Huerta. Thorns forward Sophia Smith would convert and the match went into the final stages with the hosts up two nil.

Seattle would play forward for the miracle finish, with Balcer having a header cleared off the line in the 89th minute. With thirteen minutes of stoppage time announced, there seemed to be a chance should they get one back quickly. Instead, Thorns midfielder Hina Sugita would make it a three nil lead three minutes into stoppage.

An intense rivalry game would end with the home side claiming victory and a four goal victory, as Payton Linnehan would tack on another in the 98th minute. After that, the Thorns saw out the lengthy stoppage time.

The win is the fifth consecutive for the Thorns and an offense that is really clicking. For Seattle, it was four of nine possible points from the three match week, but a brutal ending.

Emeri Adames entered the match in the 71st minute, allowing both sides to be featuring 18 year old attacking players. Moultrie has been in the rivalry for a few seasons now, but it was an introduction for Adames.

The match was played in Portland’s Providence Park in a sea of red. Over twenty thousand were on hand and were loud and engaged throughout. For a rivalry turning 40 in Seattle in a few weeks, the home crowd set a bar.

BOX

MATCH SUMMARY

2024 NWSL Regular Season
Seattle Reign FC 0 – 4 Portland Thorns FC
Date/Time: Saturday, May 11, 7:00 p.m. PT
Location: Providence Park, Portland, Oregon
Weather: 80, sunny
Scoring Summary

SEA: None
POR: Moultrie – 42′, Smith – 80′, Sugita – 90+3’, Linnehan – 90+8’

Discipline

SEA: McClernon (Caution – 58′), Huerta (Caution – 79′), Athens (Caution – 89)
POR: Moultrie (Caution – 61′)

Lineups

SEA: GK Ivory, D Huerta, D Barnes (c), D Holmes, D McClernon (Brown 83’), M Fishlock, M Van der Jagt (Stanton 83’), M Ji, F Latsko (Adames 72’), F Balcer, F King (Athens 87’)
Unused substitutes: GK Perez, D Lester, D Woodham, M Stanton, F Weinert, M James-Turner

Total Shots: 13 (Holmes – 3)
Shots on Goal: 3 (Three tied with – 1)
Fouls: 10 (King – 5)
Offsides: 0
Corner Kicks: 4
Saves: 2 (Ivory – 2)

POR: GK Hogan, D Muller (Klingenberg 90+9’), D Sauerbrunn (c), D Hubly, D Payne (Reyes 85’), M Coffey, M Moultrie (Wade-Kotoa 90+9), M Fleming (Linnehan 61’), M Sugita, F Sinclair (Beckie 62’), F Smith
Unused substitutes: GK Alvarado, D Reyes, F Dias, M Sheva, D Nally

Total Shots: 14 (Smith – 5)
Shots on Goal: 6 (Smith – 2)
Fouls: 15 (Hubly – 3)
Offsides: 2
Corner Kicks: 3
Saves: 3 (Hogan – 3)

Referee: Abdou Ndiaye
Assistant Referee 1: Noah Kenyawani
Assistant Referee 2: Cameron Siler
4th Official: Jamie Padilla
Var: Adorae Monroy
Avar: Kaili Terry

Seattle Reign FC 0
Kansas City Current 0
May 8, 2024
Lumen Field – Seattle, WA
NWSL Regular Season

Seattle Reign FC hosted Kansas City Current Wednesday night in Seattle.

The host Reign had the chance to grab three more points after a cathartic win over the weekend pulled them up out of the cellar. Wednesday’s match with KC is the second of three matches in nine days for the Reign.

Kansas City entered the match with the opportunity to tie or go top of the table with one or three points. KC also enters the match on short rest, having played away at Houston on Sunday.

Short rest and midweek match ups are a test of roster depth for clubs, and squad rotation was in full swing with the starting elevens.

The match was also a return to Seattle for Current head Coach Vlatko Andonovski. Andonovski was the Reign FC head coach in 2018 and 2019 prior to his stint with the USWNT, winning league coach of the year in 2019. Even with all the shifting and changing in between of stadiums and coaches, the match was essentially a Seattle versus KC with Harvey versus Andonovski like in the 2014 and 2015 NWSL Championship matches.

The early minutes saw the Current on the front foot, trying to press for an early goal. The Reign was without late scratch Alana Cook, but the defense was still primarily those that have played much of the minutes this season. Seattle was also starting goalkeeper Laurel Ivory for the fourth consecutive match. Ivory came up big over the weekend and was called upon early in this match.

The Current entered the match with the league best goal scoring offense, but also one of the most porous defenses. Seattle appeared willing to absorb and counter in the early going as the KC offense continued to look for openings and through balls. Reign teams have long preferred to play the ball out of the back.

Disaster nearly struck for the Reign in the 32nd minute as a Current cross deflected off two Reign defenders, but was cleared off the line by Ivory with a fantastic reflex save. Seattle had worked themselves into the match, but the later stages of the half saw KC once again on their front foot, pushing hard against the Reign defense.

Moving into the interval level and goalless seemed against the run of play; as KC had really tested the Seattle defense, and Seattle had a few nice opportunities on the counter. However, it was Ivory with several first half saves that was keeping her side in the match.

The Current front foot on the gas approach continued in the second half. KC continually put pressure on Seattle, but as the second half progressed the match remained a goalless affair.

Stoppage time found Seattle with some opportunities up front, but the Current defense also held tight. In the end, it was a hard fought goalless draw.

Defender Sofia Huerta was proud of how the Reign has responded to adversity early in this season. “I think tonight’s performance was big. I mean, we’re playing, right now, the best team in the league. We had a slow start to the season, but like we know, people who have been in this league for a long time, as you guys know, since you’ve been observing for a long time, the league is wild. You can’t let the losses get you down, you just have to turn them into lessons and I think we’ve done a really good job at not getting down. To not win five games in a row is really challenging as a team. So, to go down a man versus San Diego and then concede a goal immediately after, come back and score two goals in that game and win was a big game for us and I think we just got confidence after that game.”

Kansas City only grabs two points from the two matches on the road. These are two matches they dominated statistically, but just ended up drawing.

Seattle grabbed four gritty points from the two home matches and finds itself in much better position going into the Cascadia Derby match in Portland Saturday.

BOX

Scoring Summary

SEA: None
KC: None

Discipline

SEA: None
KC: None

Lineups

SEA: GK Ivory, D Huerta, D Barnes (c), D Holmes, D McClernon, M Athens (Balcer 62’), M Van der Jagt (Fishlock 78’), M James-Turner (Stanton 61’), F Ji (Mercado 90+6’), F Latsko, F Adames (Woodham 61’)
Unused substitutes: GK Perez, D Brown, D Lester, F Weinert,

Total Shots: 5 (Ji – 2)
Shots on Goal: 1 (Ji– 1)
Fouls: 4 (James-Turner – 2)
Offsides: 0
Corner Kicks: 2
Saves: 5 (Ivory – 5)

KC: GK Franch (c), D Rodriguez, D Robinson, S Ballisager Pedersen, D Steigleder (Mace 46’), M Feist, M Hutton (LaBonta 75’), M DiBernardo (Spaanstra 75’), F Chawinga, F Cooper (Pfeiffer 89’), F Lavogez (Debinha 65’)
Unused substitutes: D Wheeler, D Ball, M Scott, GK Silkowitz

Total Shots: 19 (Cooper – 5)
Shots on Goal: 5 (Cooper – 2)
Fouls: 6 (Cooper – 3)
Offsides: 1
Corner Kicks: 7
Saves: 1 (Franch – 1)

Referee: Anya Voigt
Assistant Referee 1: Art Arustamyan
Assistant Referee 2: Matthew Schwartz
4th Official: Kelsey Harms
VAR: Shawn Tehini
AVAR: Tom Felice

Lee Pate photos

Seattle Reign FC 2
San Diego Wave FC 1
May 3, 2024
Lumen Field – Seattle, WA
NWSL Regular Season

Seattle Reign FC hosted San Diego Wave FC in Seattle on Friday evening. Both clubs entered the match below the playoff line. Although still early in the season, a sense of urgency is beginning to creep in else a season can get away from a team.

The Wave entered the weekend in the 8th spot in the table, mere points from crossing the line and moving up. The Friday match would also be the club’s sixth of the season, drawing them level in matches played with the teams just above.

Seattle finds itself in troubled waters. With three points from six matches and looking all the way up the table, points are at a premium now. Some of the dropped points can be attributed to bad luck like a late own goal, but a lack of goals has put their defense into a place with limited margins for error. Friday was the first of three matches in nine days and a chance to right the ship and grab a cluster of needed points.

It did not take long for the match to get interesting. Reign forward Tziarra King was sent off with a straight red in the ninth minute after a VAR revue. Within minutes of the restart the Wave had grabbed a goal. Kyra Carusa managed to find the net amidst a loose ball scramble off the goalpost.

With the goal and the 11 v 10 advantage, San Diego took the opportunity to pick their spots. The Wave were also without Naomi Girma and Alex Morgan, so the early advantage was an opportunity to play safer.

Seattle looked to push, pressing hard and pursuing every loose ball, working to nab an equalizer they got in the 34th minute. Bethany Balcer leveled the match by intercepting a clearance from Wave keeper Kailen Sheridan and pouncing on the loose ball.

The first half ended level, with the red and five yellows being issued in what had become a tense and physical affair.

The pace of the match continued to be brisk in the early stages of the second half. Fresh legs looked to be a factor. San Diego brought Jaedyn Shaw in at the half and Maria Sanchez with a half hour remaining.

Seattle countered with Ji So-Yun and Veronika Latsko as veteran reinforcements. Reign teenager Emeri Adames had been the dangerous presence she has been all season.

Reign keeper Laurel Ivory kept the match level with a huge save in the 67th minute, just getting a right hand on a ball that seemed destined for the upper far corner.

In the 89th minute, Veronica Latsko got a header on a Ji free kick, floating it to the upper far corner for the improbable lead.

San Diego would throw everything forward after the Reign goal, pushing forward throughout stoppage time to create several chances and corners. Then, late in stoppage, another VAR review would send Wave defender Kristen McNabb off. The whistle would blow with both sides at ten players.

In the end, Seattle would not concede an equalizer, making several late defensive stops to hold on to the win.

After the match, Latsko was full of praise for the Reign effort. “I think it just shows that the team has grit and that’s the backbone of a championship kind of team. So, you don’t win anything without grit and we showed that
for 90 minutes tonight.”

The two reds and eight yellows is also noteworthy in that it set a league record for most bookings in a match with ten.

Seattle had not lost five in a row since the 2013 first club season. The Reign had suffered five single goal losses since the opening win. The three points are potentially season saving. San Diego has still not managed to grab points in matches in Seattle.

BOX

Scoring Summary

SEA: Balcer – 34′, Latsko – 89′

SD: Carusa – 11′

Discipline

SEA: King (Red Card – 9’), James-Turner (Caution – 21′), Athens (Caution – 45+6’), Huerta (Caution – 65′), McClernon (Caution – 78′)

SD: Lundkvist (Caution – 24′), Bennett (Caution – 38′), van Egmond (Caution – 45+5’), McCaskill (Caution – 90+1’), McNabb (Red Card – 90+15’)

Lineups

SEA: GK Ivory, D Huerta, D Barnes (c), D Cook, D McClernon (Holmes 90+2’), M Athens (Ji 67’), M Fishlock, M James-Turner (Weinert 90+2’), F Balcer (Van der Jagt 67’), F King, F Adames (Latsko 52’)
Unused substitutes: GK Perez, D Brown, D Woodham, M Stanton

Total Shots: 8 (Eight tied with – 1)
Shots on Goal: 3 (Three tied with – 1)
Fouls: 17 (Fishlock– 3)
Offsides: 1
Corner Kicks: 0
Saves: 5 (Ivory – 5)

SD: GK Sheridan, D McNabb, D Torpey, D Wesley, D Lundkvist, M McCaskill (Ascanio 90+4’), M Colaprico, M Van Egmond (Jones 90+4’), F Doniak (Ali 80’), F Carusa (Sanchez 63’), F Bennett (Shaw 46’)
Unused substitutes: D Westphal, M Enge, GK Messner, GK Beall

Total Shots: 12 (Carusa – 4)
Shots on Goal: 6 (Shaw, van Egmond – 2)
Fouls: 17 (Bennett, Lundkvist – 3)
Offsides: 3
Corner Kicks: 7
Saves: 1 (Sheridan – 1)

Referee: Danielle Chesky
Assistant Referee 1: Bennett Savage
Assistant Referee 2: Darren Bandy
4th Official: Christopher Calderon
VAR: Adorae Monroy
AVAR: Kelsey Harms