Match Forecast: OL Reign Faces Royals to Open Fall Series
OL Reign kicks off the 2020 NWSL Fall Series against Utah Royals FC at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday, September 26 at 12:30 p.m. PT on CBS All Access.
“It is good to be back to playing again,” OL Reign head coach Farid Benstiti said. “The Challenge Cup was a good opportunity for us to come together as a team and start thinking about the identity that we want to have on the field. These next four matches are an important chance to continue that work.”
Recapping the Challenge Cup
OL Reign went 1-1-3 at the NWSL Challenge Cup, reaching the quarterfinals while providing a glimpse into the club’s future. The club maintained a stout defense, keeping clean sheets in four of its five matches, including a scoreless draw against Portland on the final day of the preliminary round that locked up the third seed for the knockout round.
In the quarterfinal against eventual finalists Chicago Red Stars, OL Reign put their opponent under pressure, outshooting Chicago 15-10 and forcing keeper Alyssa Naeher into making six saves. After 90 minutes without a goal, OL Reign was narrowly eliminated in kicks from the penalty mark, 4-3.
The tournament provided the venue for the return of several key players from injury, including midfielder Jess Fishlock and keeper Michelle Betos, who made five saves in her first match back from a ruptured Achilles tendon in 2019.
The tournament also marked the debut of several new faces to OL Reign, including midfielder Shirley Cruz and forwards Nicole Momiki and Sofia Huerta, who quickly integrated with their new teammates to find success on the pitch.
Roster Changes Ahead of Fall Series
OL Reign has completed several roster moves ahead of the NWSL Fall Series, sending seven players out on loan: Lauren Barnes, Jess Fishlock, Nicole Momiki, Darian Jenkins, Machaela George, Quinn, and Celia Jiménez Delgado. The club has also signed four players to short term contracts: defenders Sam Hiatt and Kimberly Hazlett, forward Miranda Nild, and goalkeeper Carly Nelson.
OL Reign has also welcomed forward Leah Pruitt into full team training since returning from the Challenge Cup, after her recovery from a knee injury that kept her off the pitch.
“I am pleased with the squad we have on hand for this competition,” Benstiti said. “It is a good chance for some of the younger players to prove themselves and for us to continue to build as a team over these next four matches.”
The Verizon Community Shield
The NWSL announced the creation of the Verizon Community Shield on Friday, September 4. The award will be given to the club with the highest point total at the conclusion of the Fall Series, with the winners receiving a grant to aid a local small business or organization that they have partnered with.
The Community Shield-winning club will also earn their local partner a $25,000 grant from Verizon, while the second and third-place clubs will earn their partner $15,000 and $10,000, respectively.
“The Verizon Community Shield is an opportunity for our league to showcase small businesses and organizations in the communities where our clubs live, play and work,” said NWSL Commissioner Lisa Baird. “As we fight this pandemic and confront the sad reality of systemic racism in our country, we want to use the Fall Series to play for a purpose. The Verizon Community Shield provides our players and clubs that opportunity and I want to thank Verizon for stepping up and helping us make this happen.”
Scouting Utah
Hosts Utah Royals FC went 1-2-2 at the NWSL Challenge Cup. Utah was eliminated in the quarterfinals on kicks from the penalty mark by Houston. OL Reign won its match against Utah on July 8 1-0, thanks to Bethany Balcer’s goal in second-half stoppage time.
The Royals opened the Fall Series on the road against Portland Thorns FC on Sunday, September 20. Utah conceded twice in the final 18 minutes of play, losing 3-0.
Utah completed two roster moves ahead of the Fall Series. U.S. Women’s National Team forward Christen Press, who did not take part in the NWSL Challenge Cup, signed with FA Women’s Super League side Manchester United on September 9. Additionally, the club acquired forward Michele Vasconcelos from the Chicago Red Stars in exchange for $55,000 in allocation money. Vasconcelos made six appearances at the Challenge Cup, all of them as a substitute.
MultiCare Injury Report
Midfielder Kelcie Hedge is still on the season-ending injury list following her torn ACL on July 1. Additionally, defender Julia Ashley is unavailable for selection due to a back injury.
How to Watch
Fans in the United States can view the match live on CBS All Access. International fans, including Canada, can stream the match for free on Twitch.