Match Recap: OL Reign Defeat Kansas City 2-0 on Balcer Brace
OL Reign (3-5-1) got back in the win column against Kansas City NWSL (0-7-3) at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma, Washington. This was the first time that full capacity seating was offered to fans at Cheney Stadium since 2019. The action-packed game in front of 3,124 fans featured two first half goals from OL Reign forward Bethany Balcer, as well as a second half red card for OL Reign goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi.
OL Reign started the game on the front foot, applying intense pressure to Kansas City from the first whistle. This proactive start paid off for the Reign immediately when Bethany Balcer intercepted a sloppy short pass from Kansas City goalkeeper, Nicole Barnhart and found the back of the net to put OL Reign up 1-0 in the third minute of the match.
OL Reign did not stop pressing Kansas City, hungry for a second goal. A breakthrough came in the 29th minute when Sofia Huerta crossed a dangerous ball into the box. Balcer got her head on it, to score her second of the night to put the Reign up 2-0.
Kansas City started the second half stronger, this time applying pressure to the Reign. OL Reign defense held strong, denying Kansas City multiple times. When defending a play in the 70th minute, Reign goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi picked up a red card for making contact with a running Kansas City player outside of the 18-yard box. OL Reign goalkeeper Ella Dederick took her place in the net.
Down to ten players, OL Reign doubled down on their defensive efforts and continued to deny Kansas City. With a minimum of eight minutes of stoppage time added, the tension was thick but, in the end, OL Reign held onto their lead and shutout to earn three points at home.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
With this win, OL Reign are still in ninth place, just one point out of eighth place in the NWSL standings
OL Reign is undefeated against Kansas City NWSL in all meetings (2-0-0)
With her brace tonight, Bethany Balcer is tied for 5th place for goals scored in the NWSL this season
This is Bethany Balcer’s first multi-goal game in her professional career
Sarah Bouhaddi, who picked up her first red card with OL Reign, will be out for the next match
Ella Dederick made her third appearance for OL Reign, her second coming in as a sub