OL Reign Fights Way to Road Draw in Utah

OL Reign overcame a two-goal deficit to take a point on the road against Utah Royals FC Saturday. The match served as the club’s first contest of the NWSL Fall Series.

“The first game is hard because it’s been maybe two months without an official game in any competition,” Benstiti said. “We were not in the rhythm the first 20 minutes and we conceded two goals because I think we weren’t concentrated enough. The positive is that the players didn’t give up. They scored two goals. If we were better offensively, then when we had the opportunities to shoot in the box or cross in the box, then we could win this game. I am satisfied, because the mentality of the players is very good. Their comeback is indicative of a very good atmosphere in the team.”

Utah got on the board early, when Aminata Diallo ran onto a ball in space atop the 18 and struck a low shot in the ninth minute. OL Reign keeper Casey Murphy dove to her right and got a hand to the ball but was unable to keep it out of the net.

The Royals doubled their advantage in the 22nd minute, when Brittany Ratcliffe found space and time in the right alley. Ratcliffe struck a cross to the head of Tziarra King, who headed the goal home at the near post.

OL Reign responded one minute later, when Steph Cox played a low diagonal ball into the penalty area. Sofia Huerta froze the Utah defenders with a dummy, before Bethany Balcer picked up the ball and curled it past Utah keeper Melissa Lowder to make it 2-1.

Rosie White pulled OL Reign level in the 28th minute, picking up a central pass from Jasmyne Spencer and firing a low shot through traffic that beat Lowder to the left post.

The match also marked the debuts of OL Reign forward Leah Pruitt and defender Madison Hammond. Pruitt, who was picked up by the club in June while recovering from injury, subbed on for Jasmyne Spencer and played the final 20 minutes. Hammond, the first Native American player in the NWSL, subbed on for Kristen McNabb for the final 14 minutes of play to see out the draw.

Midfielder Shirley Cruz was named as OL Reign’s Budweiser Player of the Match. The midfielder took 56 touches and completed 89.6 percent of her passes in 70 minutes of play, before making way for Morgan Andrews.

OL Reign next faces rivals Portland Thorns FC on the road on Wednesday, September 30 at 7:00 p.m. PT.