May 14, 2016
Seattle Reign FC 1 – Portland Thorns FC 1
Memorial Stadium Seattle, WA
NWSL Regular Season

It was not that long ago that the Cascadia Derby between Seattle and Portland was a USL First Division match between the Sounders and the Timbers. In 2016, it is not only those teams in MLS, but the women’s pro game bringing passion to the stands. Two bus loads of Rose City Riveters arrived clad in red and positioned themselves across the Reign supporters groups. Seattle drums competed across the pitch with the Portland chants while their beloved Reign and Thorns competed on the pitch.

The first half saw both sides getting some chances, but physical play with every ball being challenged kept both sides off the board early. The turf got a victim in the the 4th minute when Manon Melis had to come off due to a nasty looking knee injury. Carson Pickett came on into an attacking role, switching Kiersten Dallstream to the right side opposite Meghan Klingenberg and setting up a game long battle between the two number 25’s.

However, the scoreless first half quickly changed in the 2nd half. Portland got an opportunistic goal from Nadia Nadim in the 46th when she out jumped Reign keeper Hope Solo over Reign defender Lauren Barnes, stunning the crowd. Seattle bounced right back with Bev Yanez tying the match in the 49th with a powerful header on a Barnes corner. Suddenly, it was a 1-1 thriller.

Christine Sinclair made her 2106 season debut in the 56th. With Tobin Heath missing on a red card the Thorns were looking for some veteran presence as the match moved into the final third. With both Sinclair and Dagny Brynjarsdottir on the pitch the Thorns had a 15 minute significant height advantage up top, but a more defensive substitution took away their brief twin towers.  Less direct play followed.

The game continued to be physical on both sides, with Seattle captain Keelin Winters going down in the 62nd. There were bodies on the ground several other times. The Seattle trainer was busy for a while. It wasn’t until the 87th minute when the referee finally reached into his pocket to book Lindsey Horan for a pull back on Little.

Both teams pressed down the stretch. Kim Little nearly gave Seattle a lead late with a flick on to herself for a volley, but it went high.

Neither side nor coach seemed satisfied with the result post game, and there were some clear frustrations evident post match. One ended up getting fined for expressing that frustration.

Cascadia is thriving.

Neither team left Memorial Stadium with the three points each hoped to earn in tonight’s match, but with the one apiece each probably deserved. It became the tale of two halves: the first marked by tentative play and with each side looking as if they were afraid to make the mistake which would put the opposition ahead; then the second, which started with a fire in the head of both teams which saw Portland’s Nadia Nadim opening the scoring seconds into the new half, only to be answered by Seattle’s Bev Yanez three minutes later.

It’s not an understatement to say that this is a rivalry game, and one between two teams which are building a not inconsiderable dislike for one another.

Drowning Pool’s “Bodies” could have been the theme song for the second half hits reel, as the game took on the sort of physical tone more commonly associated with Western Hockey League matchups between the Seattle Thunderbirds and Portland Winterhawks, as Reign players were being knocked to the turf repeatedly – and with the match referee calling for immediate medical treatment on three incidents.

Surprisingly, only two yellow cards were produced, likely the result of two of the three most severe collisions being on 50-50 balls. Even so, the visitors where whistled for six fouls in the half.

Two sets of matchups stood out- the #16s on both side, defenders Emily Sonnett of Portland and Carson Pickett of Seattle, the latter of whom ended up slotting into a midfield position after the departure of Manon Melis in the fifth minute with an unidentified leg injury.

The other pair, the #25s, Portland and US Women’s National Team defender Megan Klingenberg and Seattle’s Kiersten Dallstream, getting the rare start at forward.

More in a bit, as I have the time to sift through photos and figure out why Word Press is showing me white text on white backgrounds.Rebooting fixes everything, right?

Update, 17 May: OK, so rebooting doesn’t fix everything, but reinstalling WordPress fixed us.

Growing up, in youth sports and the like, we get taught the fundamentals. At a certain point, they stop being drilled every practice, just because it is assumed that they have become so ingrained in the player.

For those who may have discovered the game later, or who didn’t play the position, sometimes professionals manage to make something look completely routine. It’s probably worth investing a little time in breaking down the routine, because just because something looks simple doesn’t make it that way.

Thanks to burst-mode digital photography and a shooting perspective to the left of the goalkeeper not much above the six-yard box it’s possible to walk through a save Caroline Casey of Sky Blue made on Manon Melis of the Seattle Reign frame by frame.

Our view starts two strides after Manon Melis has taken service on a ball switched to her from either Bev Yanez or Jess Fishlock. Merritt Mathias is making a far-post-run, but the defender (I believe Erica Skroski) is well positioned to deny the pass if Melis can even see Mathias. Casey makes the right decision to stand her ground and “make herself big.” Her alternative choice is to attack the ball, which leaves the opportunity that Melis will step around her and put the ball into an unprotected net or chip over her should she go to ground.

From Melis’ angle, she can likely see a little space short-side and a fraction far-side, particularly if she can get the ball up, but not far enough to miss the top corner. Casey has her squared well, and particularly with the angle of Melis’ shoulders, can expect to have the shot come either right at her or to her left.

Melis makes a little adjustment in launching the shot, and drives it on frame. Casey adjusts by lowering her centre of mass while keeping her ‘wingspan’ wide.

Sure enough, the shot comes right for her.

Because of Melis’ momentum, Casey doesn’t have the chance to try to catch- her option is to put the ball somewhere safe. In this case, it spins out to her left, and safely crosses the touchline.

Never giving up on the play, she recovers her feet and focus while the returning left centre back peels off to pursue the ball- or more accurately, make certain that Melis doesn’t have a good angle to get to it.

If it looks simple, it largely is, particularly if the play is developing slowly. The six-frame sequence illustrated here, though transpired in between a third and a half-second- there isn’t time to think, just react, and it’s only experience which makes the difference. Some of us never succeeded in subduing the instinct to challenge the shooter here.

I am Jeffrey Lageson and I write the Coach’s Corner pieces for GoalkeeperGuys.net and ProstAmerika.com, covering the Seattle Reign FC, USWNT, and often the occasional other match like when WSU plays UW.

To provide a little background I have been a lifelong soccer player, supporter, coach, occasional ref, and soccer writer since 1974.

I began playing goalie in my second year of youth soccer for The Wildebeests. We kicked serious butt.

I mostly played keeper growing up, lettering at Mountlake Terrace High School.

It was a different era back in those days and I played for the club team at WSU.

I began coaching after college, taking the opportunity to coach goalkeepers at North Central High School in Spokane and at my high school alma mater.  From there, I got the opportunity to coach goalkeepers at my college alma mater, returning to Pullman to be a part of the 1994 WSU Women’s Soccer program that made it to the NCAA Sweet 16 and a regular season ending #19 ranking.

Over the years I have continued to coach youth soccer, including my daughter’s team and running summer camps at a local private school.

And yes, I still play when I can.

Photos courtesy WSU Athletics, Bob Keilin, and various family members.

The Goalkeeper Guys are live from Seattle’s Hard Rock Cafe for tonight’s kit unveiling. Stay tuned through the evening for updates and photos from the event.

Luuuuuu Barnes, Smilin’ Bev Yanez, the back of HKop’s head, and MerrBear!

Oh, and there will be some BIG NEWS, but it’s too early to tell you.

5:38   The Predmores and Laura Harvey are taking a seat, so we may be close to getting started.

And awaaaaay we go.
5:49  Unexpected big news broken by Bill Predmore. BEEEEEEER! Reign FC have found a way around the Seattle School Board ban on alcohol. Georgetown Brewing will be providing beer in a beer garden just outside the stadium.

5:50 The Austen Everett Foundation and Water 1st will be returning as community partners. If you’ve been following the team, Teresa Predmore, Lu Barnes, and Elli Reed spent some time in the off-season in Ethiopia raising awareness on how severely the lack of access to clean water has an adverse impact in parts of the world – and how disproportionately this falls on youmg girls.

Kendall Fletcher with the Reign Royal Blue Piccolo Venetian, which will through the Legends Campaign recognize the contributions of women in the Pacific Northwest who have set an example of excellence at home and beyond.

The Reign Academy has also been accepted to the Elite Clubs National League – the top organization for the development of female soccer players in the country.

Misrosoft will be the new kit primary sponsor. We should get a look shortly.

Oh, my. Royal blue and platinum on the home kit, vivid yellow with black for the road kit, and the goalkeepers will be in black and platinum. Pictures coming shortly.