Match Forecast: OL Reign Ready for a Second Clash with Houston

OL Reign are set to play their second home match in a row this Saturday. They will be taking on the Houston Dash for the second time this season. As the Olympics wind down and the Reign are settling in, the team looks to extend their win streak to three games and advance their place in the NWSL standings. 

WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 7:00 p.m. PT on Saturday, August 7 at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma, Washington 

WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be available on Twitch 

2021 RECORDS AND STANDINGS (W-L-D): OL Reign: 5-6-1 (16 points, eighth place), Houston Dash: 5-5-2 (17 points, sixth place) 

Key Points Ahead of the Match: 

1. LAST MEETING – The last time that OL Reign and Houston met was July 2, 2021, in Houston, Texas at BBVA Stadium. The match was Sami Laity’s first match as interim head coach of OL Reign following the resignation of head coach Farid Benstiti earlier in the day and featured a weather delay that pushed kickoff back by an hour.

Neither team found the back of the net in the first half, but former OL Reign player Jasmyne Spencer scored the first goal of the game for Houston in the 50th minute of the match. Houston remained the dominant team against an OL Reign side that lacked urgency. Katie Raughton doubled the lead for Houston in the 57th minute with a header goal. Jane Campbell made a couple of saves to hold on to the shutout for Houston. Ultimately the Reign fell 2-0 and Houston extended their home unbeaten streak (that has since been broken by the Portland Thorns) to 10 games.

2. SCOUTING HOUSTON – The Houston Dash are currently in sixth place in the NWSL standings with 17 points and a 5-5-2 record. Most recently, Houston played NJ/NY Gotham FC at BBVA Stadium in Houston. The two teams battled to a 1-1 draw, with two second half goals.

Houston scored first to take the lead in the opening minutes of the second half. Forward Veronica Latsko took a shot to force a save from the Gotham goalkeeper. Houston midfielder Gabby Seiler was ready near the penalty spot to finish the loose ball on the volley to score her second goal of the season and give Houston the lead.

In dramatic fashion, Gotham waited until the end of the game to find an equalizer. Former OL Reign forward Ifeoma Onumonu beat the Dash goalkeeper with a low shot to the inside of the far post in the 89th minute to earn the 1-1 draw.

3. KEEP THE WIN STREAK ALIVE – The Reign have earned two consecutive wins and shutouts and will be looking to keep that win streak alive against Houston. This is their first winning streak of any kind in the regular season this year and the first time the club has recorded consecutive clean sheets in league play since August 2019. Now that the Olympics are over, the OL Reign players from Tokyo will be trickling back into the lineup. In addition, Laura Harvey will make her return to Tacoma to reclaim her place as head of the team. With things falling into place for the Reign, the team can focus on continuing to improve each match and developing their chemistry on the field.

“As we continue to spend more time playing together, we are able to build relationships and it just gets easier to play next to people after you do build those relationships and have more experience playing next to each other,” explained OL Reign defender Sam Hiatt.

The team added two first half goals in their match against Houston, so it is still important to focus on putting in an intense 90-minute performance and capitalizing on goal scoring opportunities in the second half.

4. GET POINTS TO MOVE UP THE TABLE – With just four points separating eighth place from second place in the standings, every game is a must win game for the Reign. Last game was OL Reign’s 12th of 24 games, meaning that this game against Houston begins the second half of their season.

OL Reign players are not satisfied with staying where they are mid way through the season and want to continue to improve each game. Multiple players have shared the same sentiment – They are focused on winning one game at a time and improving their performance, regardless of any outside factors. This two-game win streak midseason is a great start.

“I want to keep going as a team and I know we can be better. It’s not finished, but it’s a good way to start and to continue,” said OL Reign forward Eugénie Le Sommer, who scored both goals in the Reign’s match against Louisville.

MultiCare Injury Report: 

OUT  

Ally Watt – Right Knee  

Rosie White - Illness  

QUESTIONABLE  

None  

INTERNATIONAL DUTY  

Quinn 

Rose Lavelle 

Megan Rapinoe